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Some Observations of Hatch of Fertile Eggs from Barred Plymouth Rocks
RESEARCH NOTES
831
SOME OBSERVATIONS OF HATCH OF FERTILE EGGS FROM BARRED PLYMOUTH ROCKS ALADAR F. K I S H
Department of Animal and Poultry Industry, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware (Received for publication September 1, 1948)
A study was initiated at the University of Delaware in 1948 to obtain data relative to the inheritance of breast width characters in Barred Plymouth Rocks. The selection of the male and female breeders used in this experiment was based upon pedigree records of breast width measuremerits taken at 14 weeks of age. The organization of the breeding pens based on breast width measurements is preTABLE 1.—Breeding pen organization Pen
Breast width line
1 2 3. 4
Wide no. 1 Narrow no. 1 Wide no. 2 Narrow no. 2
Average Male female breast width breast width 1.39 in. 0.95 1.28 1.16
1.75 in. 1.31 1.50 0.94
sented in Table 1. The mating schedule used in this experiment was as follows: Hatches 1 and 4 Male Female Wide No. 1 XWide No. 1 Narrow No. IX Narrow No. 1 Wide No. 2 XWide No. 2 Narrow No. 2XNarrow No. 2 Hatches 2 and 3 Male Female Narrow No. 1 XWide No. 1 Wide No. 1 XNarrow No. 1 Narrow No. 2 XWide No. 2 Wide No. 2 XNarrow No. 2
Effect of Close Breeding on Hatchability. Whenever the males and females of the Published as Miscellaneous Paper No. 54 with the approval of the Director of the Delaware Agricultural Experiment Station. Contribution of the Department of Animal and Poultry Industry, August, 1948.
same line were mated together, the matings represented (1) full-brother, fullsister, (2) half-brother, half-sister, and (3) unrelated matings. After the" males were switched, all the matings represented unrelated bird crosses. Inasmuch as different intensities of relationships are represented the resulting hatch of fertile eggs obtained are so presented in Table 2. Observation of the data revealed the dangers of mating closely related birds. The total hatch of fertile eggs for all brother-sister matings was 54.26%, half brother-half sister matings, 59.17% and unrelated matings, 78.92%. After the males were switched and all matings were with unrelated birds, the total hatch of fertile eggs for the same groups of females as listed before was 77.21%, 80.86% and 79.78%. It is apparent from these results that mating closely related birds should be discouraged, unless a very rigid program of selection is conducted to intensify the homozygosity of good hatchability. Relationship of Breast Width and Hatchability. Further observation of the data revealed the possibility of a relationship existing between breast width factors and hatch of fertile eggs. It was noted that the average hatchability of the birds of the wide breast lines were lower than that of the narrow breast lines. The wide breasted females were observed to give poorer results when mated to either type male than were the narrow breasted females.
832
RESEARCH NOTES
TABLE 2.—Percent hatch of fertile eggs by individuals, pens, and hatches* Penl Group** Hen
Pen 3
Pen 2
Pen 4
Hatch 1&4
Hatch 2&3
Hatch 1&4
Hatch 2&3
Hatch 1&4
Hatch 2&3
Hatch 1&4
Hatch 2&3
percent 37.50 50.00
percent 11.76 82.35
percent 45.45 58.82 60.00
percent 88.23 94.11 87.50
percent 66.66 72.72 83.33
percent 80.95 86.36 90.90
percent 00.00 42.10
percent 88.88 73.68
A
1 2 3
B
1 2 3 4
50.00 55.55 57.89 70.58
100.00 81.25 94.11 86.66
57.14 58.33
50.00 100.00
76.47 82.35
83.33 94.11
12.50 57.14 68.75
52.63 94.11 50.00
C
1 2 3 4
33.33 42.14 84.21
42.85 75.00 92.85
68.75 76.92 84.21 100.00
64.28 58.82 94.44 81.81
86.66 93.33 93.75
94.44 61.53 80.00
81.25 100.00 100.00
88.23 100.00 100.00
* Note:—These results are based on a total setting of 1,206 eggs, with the minimum number of eggs set per hen being 9, and the maximum 23. ** Note:—The females in Group A are sisters to the males used in Hatch 1 and 4 and unrelated to males of Hatch 2 and 3. Group B, half sisters in Hatch 1 and 4 and unrelated in Hatch 2 and 3. Group C, unrelated to either male. TABLE 3.—Percent hatch offertile eggs by mating Narrow Breast Females
Wide Breast Females Wide Male
Wide Male
Narrow Male
Narrow Male
No. Set
Percent Hatch
No. Set
Percent Hatch
No. Set
Percent Hatch
No. Set
Percent Hatch
19 19 17 19 15 19
93.75 93.33 86.66 84.21 42.14 33.33
17 15 18 14 13 14
80.00 61.53 94.44 92.86 75.00 42.85
12 15 18 18 17 16 18
100.00 100.00 94.44 88.23 81.81 84.28 58.82
21 11 20 16 16 16 20
100.00 100.00 84.21 81.25 100.00 68.75 76.92
108
72.16
91
75.58
114
83.33
120
85.85
These observations were made on the unrelated matings only. Table 3 presents the results. Although the sample upon which the observations were made is small, the pattern set forth seems indica-
tive of limited relationships. I t is evident that further study in greater detail is necessary to prove or disprove this observation,
831
SOME OBSERVATIONS OF HATCH OF FERTILE EGGS FROM BARRED PLYMOUTH ROCKS ALADAR F. K I S H
Department of Animal and Poultry Industry, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware (Received for publication September 1, 1948)
A study was initiated at the University of Delaware in 1948 to obtain data relative to the inheritance of breast width characters in Barred Plymouth Rocks. The selection of the male and female breeders used in this experiment was based upon pedigree records of breast width measuremerits taken at 14 weeks of age. The organization of the breeding pens based on breast width measurements is preTABLE 1.—Breeding pen organization Pen
Breast width line
1 2 3. 4
Wide no. 1 Narrow no. 1 Wide no. 2 Narrow no. 2
Average Male female breast width breast width 1.39 in. 0.95 1.28 1.16
1.75 in. 1.31 1.50 0.94
sented in Table 1. The mating schedule used in this experiment was as follows: Hatches 1 and 4 Male Female Wide No. 1 XWide No. 1 Narrow No. IX Narrow No. 1 Wide No. 2 XWide No. 2 Narrow No. 2XNarrow No. 2 Hatches 2 and 3 Male Female Narrow No. 1 XWide No. 1 Wide No. 1 XNarrow No. 1 Narrow No. 2 XWide No. 2 Wide No. 2 XNarrow No. 2
Effect of Close Breeding on Hatchability. Whenever the males and females of the Published as Miscellaneous Paper No. 54 with the approval of the Director of the Delaware Agricultural Experiment Station. Contribution of the Department of Animal and Poultry Industry, August, 1948.
same line were mated together, the matings represented (1) full-brother, fullsister, (2) half-brother, half-sister, and (3) unrelated matings. After the" males were switched, all the matings represented unrelated bird crosses. Inasmuch as different intensities of relationships are represented the resulting hatch of fertile eggs obtained are so presented in Table 2. Observation of the data revealed the dangers of mating closely related birds. The total hatch of fertile eggs for all brother-sister matings was 54.26%, half brother-half sister matings, 59.17% and unrelated matings, 78.92%. After the males were switched and all matings were with unrelated birds, the total hatch of fertile eggs for the same groups of females as listed before was 77.21%, 80.86% and 79.78%. It is apparent from these results that mating closely related birds should be discouraged, unless a very rigid program of selection is conducted to intensify the homozygosity of good hatchability. Relationship of Breast Width and Hatchability. Further observation of the data revealed the possibility of a relationship existing between breast width factors and hatch of fertile eggs. It was noted that the average hatchability of the birds of the wide breast lines were lower than that of the narrow breast lines. The wide breasted females were observed to give poorer results when mated to either type male than were the narrow breasted females.
832
RESEARCH NOTES
TABLE 2.—Percent hatch of fertile eggs by individuals, pens, and hatches* Penl Group** Hen
Pen 3
Pen 2
Pen 4
Hatch 1&4
Hatch 2&3
Hatch 1&4
Hatch 2&3
Hatch 1&4
Hatch 2&3
Hatch 1&4
Hatch 2&3
percent 37.50 50.00
percent 11.76 82.35
percent 45.45 58.82 60.00
percent 88.23 94.11 87.50
percent 66.66 72.72 83.33
percent 80.95 86.36 90.90
percent 00.00 42.10
percent 88.88 73.68
A
1 2 3
B
1 2 3 4
50.00 55.55 57.89 70.58
100.00 81.25 94.11 86.66
57.14 58.33
50.00 100.00
76.47 82.35
83.33 94.11
12.50 57.14 68.75
52.63 94.11 50.00
C
1 2 3 4
33.33 42.14 84.21
42.85 75.00 92.85
68.75 76.92 84.21 100.00
64.28 58.82 94.44 81.81
86.66 93.33 93.75
94.44 61.53 80.00
81.25 100.00 100.00
88.23 100.00 100.00
* Note:—These results are based on a total setting of 1,206 eggs, with the minimum number of eggs set per hen being 9, and the maximum 23. ** Note:—The females in Group A are sisters to the males used in Hatch 1 and 4 and unrelated to males of Hatch 2 and 3. Group B, half sisters in Hatch 1 and 4 and unrelated in Hatch 2 and 3. Group C, unrelated to either male. TABLE 3.—Percent hatch offertile eggs by mating Narrow Breast Females
Wide Breast Females Wide Male
Wide Male
Narrow Male
Narrow Male
No. Set
Percent Hatch
No. Set
Percent Hatch
No. Set
Percent Hatch
No. Set
Percent Hatch
19 19 17 19 15 19
93.75 93.33 86.66 84.21 42.14 33.33
17 15 18 14 13 14
80.00 61.53 94.44 92.86 75.00 42.85
12 15 18 18 17 16 18
100.00 100.00 94.44 88.23 81.81 84.28 58.82
21 11 20 16 16 16 20
100.00 100.00 84.21 81.25 100.00 68.75 76.92
108
72.16
91
75.58
114
83.33
120
85.85
These observations were made on the unrelated matings only. Table 3 presents the results. Although the sample upon which the observations were made is small, the pattern set forth seems indica-
tive of limited relationships. I t is evident that further study in greater detail is necessary to prove or disprove this observation,