Poult. Sci.
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

Poult Sci 2007. 86:775-781
© 2007 Poultry Science Association
This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Romero-Sanchez, H.
Right arrow Articles by Brake, J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Romero-Sanchez, H.
Right arrow Articles by Brake, J.

PRODUCTION, MODELING, AND EDUCATION

Feeding Broiler Breeder Males. 3. Effect of Feed Allocation Program From Sixteen to Twenty-Six Weeks and Subsequent Feed Increments During the Production Period on Body Weight and Fertility1

H. Romero-Sanchez*, P. W. Plumstead{dagger} and J. Brake{dagger},2

* Grupo Grica, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Antioquia, AA 1226 Medellin, Colombia; and {dagger} Department of Poultry Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695-7608

2 Corresponding author: jbrake{at}ncsu.edu


   ABSTRACT
TOP
 ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
Two experiments were conducted to compare different feed allocation programs from 16 to 26 wk of age and during the subsequent production period on broiler breeder male BW and fertility. In experiment 1, Ross 344 males were randomly assigned to 3 rates (slow, medium, or fast) of weekly feed increase from 16 to 26 wk of age that provided a gradual increase from 85 to 110 g/male/d. Feed allocation was also increased 5 g/ male/d in a single increment at 55 wk of age after fertility had declined. In experiment 2, a 2 x 2 factorial design was used to evaluate the interaction between the slow and fast feeding programs described in experiment 1 in combination with 2 feeding programs (constant or increasing) during the subsequent production period. In experiment 1, the males on the fast feed program exhibited higher mortality after 32 wk of age and lower fertility after 46 wk of age. However, fertility recovered in all treatments after the feed allocation was increased at 55 wk of age. In experiment 2, the constant program elicited lower fertility from 36 to 55 wk. Males that received the slow feed program from 16 to 26 wk of age gained BW more slowly and apparently required less feed to sustain their BW throughout the production period. Increasing male feed allocation during the production period improved fertility.

Key Words: broiler breeder • feeding program • fertility • body weight


   INTRODUCTION
TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
A major problem encountered with commercial broiler breeder flocks has been the often dramatic decrease in fertility during the latter part of the laying period, particularly after 50 wk of age (Kirk et al., 1980; Walsh and Brake, 1997). It has been generally considered that this reduction in fertility was caused by a decline in mating activity that was largely attributable to the heavy BW and poor physical condition of older males (Hocking, 1990). However, other evidence has suggested that a ME deficit was a more likely cause of such male fertility problems (Buckner et al., 1986; Sexton et al., 1989a,b; Cerolini et al., 1995; Bramwell et al., 1996). It has been further shown that the pattern of male feeding during the latter part of the rearing period affected late fertility to a greater extent than did the feed allocation pattern during the early rearing period (Zhang et al., 1999; Peak, 2001; Romero-Sanchez and Brake, 2005). The late rearing and the early production period (16 to 26 wk of age), when broiler breeders have typically been photostimulated, could be the most critical period in the development of sexual maturity in the broiler breeder male (Leeson and Summers, 1999; Brake, 2002). It has also been demonstrated that the detrimental effects of inappropriate feeding programs on fertility after 45 wk of age could be reversed by increasing the male feed allocation during the late production period (Romero-Sanchez and Brake, 2005; Romero-Sanchez et al., 2007b). In a similar manner, Cerolini et al. (1995) used a low density diet to show that an increase in male feed allocation from 110 to 130 g/male/d improved fertility. The present investigation was conducted to investigate the effects of the male broiler breeder feed allocation program from 16 to 26 wk of age on fertility and to determine if an interaction existed with the production feed allocation program. We hypothesized that increasing the male feed allocation in a consistent manner during the production period would ameliorate the typical late decline in fertility.


   MATERIALS AND METHODS
TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
General

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of the male broiler breeder feeding program from 16 to 26 wk of age and feeding program during the subsequent production period on BW and fertility. In both experiments, 220 female Ross 308 SF broiler breeder chicks were placed into each of 12 female floor pens and 24 male Ross 344 (Aviagen Inc., Huntsville, AL) cockerels were placed into each of 12 male floor pens located within a blackout rearing house. After 23 h of light per day for 1 wk all birds were reared to 21 wk of age under a 8L:16D lighting program at 15 lx light intensity. From 0 to 2 wk all birds received a starter feed followed by a rearing diet to 24 wk and a laying diet from 25 to 64 wk of age (Table 1Go). Broiler breeders were moved at 21 wk of age to a curtain-sided slat-litter house where the photoperiod was extended with artificial light to 14 and 15 h at 22 and 24 wk, and to 15.5 and 16 h at 5 and 50% rate of lay, respectively. Natural light entered the breeding house through open or closed translucent curtains during normal daylight hours. Supplemental light provided an intensity of 35 lx when natural light was not present. An average of 200 females and 20 males were moved to each of the 12 breeding pens at 21 wk of age. Each breeder pen was equipped with 2/3 wood slats and 1/3 litter floors. Feed was provided for daily consumption during the first 2 wk of age and then a 4/3 feed allocation program was used until 21 wk of age after which a daily feeding program was used. Access to water was limited by a time clock and solenoid system sufficient to control litter moisture and allow the birds to have unlimited access to water until 1 h after all feed was consumed during rearing and a similar amount on nonfeed days. Water was limited to 8 h per day during the production period.


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]

  		Table 1. Composition of starter (0 to 2 wk), grower (3 to 24 wk), and laying (25 to 64 wk) diets in experiments 1 and 2
 
Experimental Feeding Program

From 16 to 26 wk of age, 3 or 2 different feed allocation programs were evaluated in experiments 1 and 2, respectively. In experiment 1, 3 rates (slow, medium, or fast) of feeding were used to provide 3 gradual increases from 85 to 110 g/d as shown in Figure 1AGo. In experiment 2 only the slow and fast programs were evaluated (Figure 1BGo). Differences between the slow and the fast programs were less than 260 kcal of ME and 15 g of CP, respectively, and programs were designed to provide virtually the same cumulative nutrition to 21 wk when birds were photostimulated. A more than adequate minimum cumulative rearing intake of 31,460 kcal of ME and 1,669 g of CP was attained at 21 wk of age for all programs tested (Brake, 2002).


Figure 1
View larger version (14K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]

  		Figure 1. Male feeding programs from 16 to 26 wk of age and during the production period. Panel A shows 3 feeding programs (slow, medium, and fast) of experiment 1, and panel B shows the slow and fast programs from 16 to 26 wk of age and the constant and increasing programs during the production period of experiment 2.

 
A single constant feed allocation (110 g/male per d) was used in experiment 1 from 26 wk of age. In experiment 2, 2 different feed allocation programs (constant or increasing) were applied after 26 wk of age to study the interaction between the feed allocation program from 16 to 26 wk of age and the feed allocation program during the production period. The constant feeding program maintained 110 g/male per d throughout the production period, as for experiment 1, whereas the increasing feeding program provided biweekly increments of 1 g from 26 to 42 wk and a similar increase every 4 wk from 42 to 62 wk until a daily feed intake of 123 g/male per d was reached (Figure 1BGo). Male BW was measured individually at 16, 20, 24, 26, 28, 32, 36, 40, 48, 56, and 64 wk of age. Male and female mortality were recorded daily. Eggs were collected twice daily and stored in a cooler at 18.6°C and 70% RH until incubated. Eggs laid on the floor and slats were collected separately and not incubated. Fertility analysis was carried out on the basis of biweekly sets of 180 eggs per replicate pen. All unhatched eggs were opened and examined macroscopically by a single experienced individual for evidence of embryological development.

Statistical Analyses

From 16 to 26 wk of age a completely randomized design was used in both experiments, using 3 or 2 treatments with 4 or 6 replicates, respectively, for experiments 1 and 2. A completely randomized design within age was utilized in experiment 1, where the 12 pens were divided into 3 treatments with 4 replicates per interaction cell. In experiment 2, a completely randomized design with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement was used to analyze for effects of the 2 feed allocation programs around the time of photostimulation (slow or fast) and 2 feed allocation programs during the production period (constant or increasing). The twelve pens were divided among the 4 interaction combinations with 3 replicates per interaction cell. The GLM procedure with the repeated statement of SAS Institute (SAS Institute, 2001) was used for the broiler breeder BW and mortality data. The fertility data were analyzed as categorical data, where each individual egg was taken as a binomial event, either fertile or infertile, using the GENMOD procedure of SAS Institute (2001), as described by Walsh and Brake (1999). The fertility data were analyzed on a biweekly basis. Additionally, all fertility data were summarized on an overall cumulative pen basis and into age-based quartile time periods prior to analysis. To test the time effect and its interaction with the treatments, a split plot design with time and its interactions in the subplot was conducted using PROC MIXED (SAS Institute, 2001). Orthogonal contrasts were used to compare treatment probabilities (Giesbrecht and Gumpertz, 2004). Means were partitioned using LSMEANS, andstatements of statistical significance were based upon P < 0.05 unless otherwise stated.


   RESULTS
TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
Experiment 1

The effect of the 3 feeding programs from 16 to 26 wk of age on male BW is shown in Figure 2Go. No significant differences were observed other than when the slow feeding program produced a significantly increased male BW at 40 wk of age. The effect of feeding program from 16 to 26 wk of age on fertility is shown in Figure 3Go and Table 2Go. There was a significant but unexplained transient decrease in percentage fertility for the medium feeding program at 28 wk, whereas a pronounced long-term decrease that affected all feeding programs was apparent after 38 wk of age. The slow feeding program exhibited a significantly reduced decrease after 38 wk relative to the high feeding program, which experienced the greatest decline in fertility, whereas the medium feeding program produced an intermediate decline. Following an increase in the male feed allocation at 55 wk of age fertility increased in all 3 treatments, and treatment differences diminished. Overall, breeders that received the slow feed increase exhibited higher fertility when compared with the birds that received the fast feed increase program, whereas the medium feeding program produced intermediate values (Table 2Go).


Figure 2
View larger version (10K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]

  		Figure 2. Male BW as affected by feeding program from 16 to 26 wk of age in experiment 1. Ross 344 males received a single growing diet using 3 different feed programs (slow, medium, or fast). a,bMeans for 4 pens (SE = 38.9 g) with different letters are significantly different (P < 0.05) at each age.

 

Figure 3
View larger version (14K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]

  		Figure 3. Fertility during the production period as affected by male feeding program from 16 to 26 wk of age in experiment 1. Ross 344 males received a single growing diet using 3 different feed programs (slow, medium, or fast). The arrow indicates the age when the feed allocation was increased by 5 g/bird per d. a,bMeans for 4 pens with different letters are significantly different (P < 0.05) at each age.

 

View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]

  		Table 2. Broiler breeder fertility as affected by male feeding program from 16 to 26 wk of age in experiment 11
 
The effect of the feeding program from 16 to 26 wk of age on cumulative broiler breeder male mortality is depicted in Figure 4Go. No significant differences were observed through 32 wk of age. However, the fast feeding program group then experienced a significantly higher cumulative mortality to 48, 56, and 64 wk of age.


Figure 4
View larger version (11K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]

  		Figure 4. Male mortality as affected by feeding program from 16 to 26 wk of age in experiment 1. Ross 344 males received a single growing diet using 3 different feed programs (slow, medium, or fast). a,bMeans for 4 pens (SE = 1.72%) with different letters are significantly different (P < 0.05) at each age.

 
Experiment 2

The effect of male feeding program from 16 to 26 wk of age, feeding program during the subsequent laying period, and age on male BW is shown in Figure 5Go. No significant differences were observed from 26 to 40 wk of age. However, the increasing feeding program during the production period produced a significantly increased male BW at 48 wk of age and thereafter.


Figure 5
View larger version (12K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]

  		Figure 5. Male BW as affected by feeding program from 16 to 26 wk of age (panel A) and during the subsequent production period (panel B) in experiment 2. Ross 344 males received a single growing diet using 2 different feed programs, slow or fast as shown in Figure 1Go, followed by a constant or increasing feed allocation during the production period. *Indicates a significant difference (P < 0.05) at each age. There were 6 pens (SE = 24 g) for each main effect.

 
The effect of male feeding program from 16 to 26 wk of age, male feeding program during the subsequent production period, and age on male fertility is shown in Figure 6Go and Table 3Go. Although values remained greater than 90%, differences in fertility appeared during the second quartile time period (Table 3Go). Fertility decreased after 40 wk of age; however, the slow feeding program from 16 to 26 wk of age and the increasing program during the production period produced a significantly smaller decrease in fertility (Figure 6Go). Overall, the fast and constant feeding programs experienced the greatest decrease in fertility with increasing age, but no significant interactions were found (Table 3Go). Significant differences were found in male mortality only at 32 wk of age when the fast and constant treatment combination produced higher mortality (Figure 7Go).


Figure 6
View larger version (15K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]

  		Figure 6. Fertility as affected by male feeding program from 16 to 26 wk of age (panel A) and during the production period (panel B) in experiment 2. Ross 344 males received a single growing diet using 2 different feed programs from 16 to 16 wk of age (slow or fast), and then each group received the constant or increasing feed program during the production period as shown in Figure 2BGo. *Indicates a significant difference (P < 0.05) at each age. There were 6 pens for each main effect.

 

View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]

  		Table 3. Broiler breeder fertility as affected by male feeding program from 16 to 26 wk of age and during the production period in experiment 21
 

Figure 7
View larger version (13K):
[in this window]
[in a new window]

  		Figure 7. Male mortality as affected by male feeding program from 16 to 26 wk of age and during production period in experiment 2. Ross 344 males received a single growing diet using 2 different feed programs from 16 to 26 wk of age (slow or fast), and then each group received the constant or increasing feed program during the production period. a,bMeans with different letters are significantly different (P < 0.05) at each age. There were 3 pens (SE = 1.78%) for each interaction mean.

 

   DISCUSSION
TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
REFERENCES
 
Zhang et al. (1999) showed that changing from a starter to a grower diet at a mean BW of either 0.45 or 0.68 kg had no effect on BW gain after 4 wk of age. Although fertility was not measured, these authors found no significant differences between treatments for semen volume, semen concentration, or percentage males in semen production. These data were similar to data from Peak (2001) and Romero-Sanchez et al. (2007a) that showed that altering the male feeding program during the initial part of the rearing period did not affect broiler breeder male fertility during the subsequent production period. In contrast, changes in male feeding program during the latter part of the rearing period appeared to affect subsequent broiler breeder fertility (Peak, 2001; Romero-Sanchez and Brake, 2005). To elucidate this point, 3 feeding programs representing different feeding management approaches around the time of photostimulation were designed to provide a gradual feed increment from 85 to 110 g/male/d between 16 and 26 wk of age. The slow and fast feeding programs used in experiments 1 and 2 provided a similar feed allocation from 16 to 26 wk of age as was described for the latter part of the concave and sigmoid programs, respectively, of Romero-Sanchez et al. (2007a), whereas the medium program in experiment 1 provided an intermediate feed increment program. Importantly, the relative decrease in late fertility after 46 wk was comparatively less for birds that had received the slow feed program when compared with the fast feed program, whereas fertility of birds on the medium feed program was intermediate in experiment 1. The results showed that increasing the male feed allocation program too rapidly during the period around photostimulation caused the BW of these birds to reach a plateau (Figure 2Go) at 36 wk of age that was probably indicative of postphotostimulation ME intake being inadequate to support further BW gains. The detrimental effect that this plateau in BW had on fertility of birds in the medium and fast groups was evident (Figure 3Go) and supported previous findings of Peak (1996, 2001), Romero-Sanchez and Brake (2005), and Romero-Sanchez et al. (2007a, b) showing that fertility declined when nutrient intake was inadequate to support continued modest increases in BW.

In this and previous experiments (Romero-Sanchez and Brake, 2005; Romero-Sanchez et al., 2007a), an improvement in fertility was observed when the feed allocation was increased at 55 wk of age. This suggested that nutrient deprivation (primarily ME) could be related to reduced fertility. This conclusion would support previous findings that showed that fertility declined when male nutrient intake was limiting (Parker and Arscott, 1964; Sexton et al., 1989a; Cerolini et al., 1995).

The results of Zhang et al. (1999) showed that slow but consistent BW gain after sexual maturity was required to optimize the number of spermatozoa per ejaculate and semen production, especially during the late breeding period after 46 wk of age. This finding was in agreement with data from Sexton et al. (1989a, b) who reported that full-fed males that possessed heavier BW also had higher spermatozoa per ejaculate than those that were restricted-fed from 17 to 56 wk of age. Zhang et al. (1999) showed that a greater BW gain after sexual maturity was associated with more spermatozoa per ejaculate. Similar results have been shown in turkeys (Bakst and Cecil, 1981; Revington et al., 1991). These data strongly suggested that feeding programs should be designed to maintain BW gain rather than focusing on the attainment of some fixed BW. Cerolini et al. (1995) showed that the highest mean percentage of males producing semen was recorded in groups at a moderate restriction of 357 kcal/male per d (130 g/d) compared with an ad libitum fed group or groups that had been more severely restricted to 302 or 330 kcal/male per d.

Some decline in fertility of broiler breeder flocks must be inevitable because of the normal aging process in females and males. Because fertility has been shown to be maintained toward the end of the production period by artificial insemination, it has been assumed that the decline in late fertility was predominantly a male problem (Brillard and McDaniel, 1986). Based on this, other authors related the decreased fertility to anatomical problems of overweight males that had difficulties achieving cloacal contact with hens (Soller et al., 1965; Hocking and Duff, 1989; Hocking et al., 1989). Other investigations have related fertility problems to leg problems of overweight males (Duff and Hocking, 1986) although leg problems were more frequently observed in adequately performing caged birds (Leeson and Summers, 1999). Based on these data, it would appear that the reduction in broiler breeder fertility that has been commonly observed in older commercial flocks could be attributed to a decreased mating efficiency, frequency, or both (Duncan et al., 1990), which in turn may be related to excessive male BW (Hocking and Bernard, 2000; Hocking and Robertson, 2000), lameness (Hocking and Duff, 1989; Hocking et al., 1989), or excessive restriction of nutrients (Cerolini et al., 1995). Importantly, the convention that modern meat-type males overeat and become too fat was not supported by the data of Cerolini et al. (1995) that showed no effects of ad libitum male feeding on the percentage fat pad. Restricted feeding of males in cages has also been shown to be detrimental to spermatozoal production, whereas ad libitum feeding was beneficial in such cases (Sexton et al., 1989a,b). The present results supported those of Sexton et al. (1989b) that daily ME intake below the minimum level resulted in a decreased semen spermatozoal concentration.


   FOOTNOTES
 
1 The use of trade names in this publication does not imply endorsement of the products mentioned nor criticism of similar products not mentioned. Back

Received for publication June 7, 2006. Accepted for publication November 10, 2006.


   REFERENCES
TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 REFERENCES
 
Bakst, M. R., and H. C. Cecil. 1981. Changes in the characteristics of turkey ejaculated semen and ductus deferens semen with repeated ejaculations. Reprod. Nutr. Dev. 21:1095–1103.

Brake, J. 2002. Feeding and management of broiler breeder males. Pages 45–67 in Proc. N.C. Broiler Breeder and Hatchery Management Conf., Statesville, NC. Ext. Poult. Sci., North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh.

Bramwell, R. K., C. D. McDaniel, W. H. Burke, J. L. Wilson, and B. Howarth. 1996. Influence of male broiler breeder dietary energy intake on reproduction and progeny growth. Poult. Sci. 75:765–775.

Brillard, J. P., and G. R. McDaniel. 1986. Influence of spermatozoa numbers and insemination frequency on fertility in dwarf broiler breeder hens. Poult. Sci. 65:2330–2334.[Web of Science][Medline]

Buckner, R. E., J. A. Renden, and T. F. Savage. 1986. The effect of feeding programs on reproductive traits and selected blood chemistries of caged broiler breeder males. Poult. Sci. 65:85–91.[Web of Science][Medline]

Cerolini, S., C. Mantovani, F. Bellagamba, M. G. Mangiagalli, L. G. Cavalchini, and R. Reniero. 1995. Effect of restricted and ad libitum feeding on semen production and fertility in broiler breeder males. Br. Poult. Sci. 36:677–682.[Web of Science][Medline]

Duff, S. R., and P. M. Hocking. 1986. Chronic orthopedic disease in adult male broiler breeding fowls. Res. Vet. Sci. 41:340–348.[Web of Science][Medline]

Duncan, I. J. H., P. M. Hocking, and E. Seivewright. 1990. Sexual behavior and fertility in broiler breeder domestic fowl. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 26:1–12.

Giesbrecht, F. G., and M. L. Gumpertz. 2004. Planning, Construction, and Statistical Analysis of Comparative Experiments. John Wiley and Sons Inc., New York, NY.

Hocking, P. M. 1990. The relationships between dietary crude protein, body weight, and fertility in naturally mated broiler breeder males. Br. Poult. Sci. 31:743–757.[Web of Science][Medline]

Hocking, P. M., and R. Bernard. 2000. Effects of the age of male and female broiler breeders on sexual behavior, fertility, and hatchability of eggs. Br. Poult. Sci. 41:370–376.[Web of Science][Medline]

Hocking, P. M., and S. R. Duff. 1989. Musculoskeletal lesions in adult male broiler breeder fowls and their relationships with body weight and fertility at 60 weeks of age. Br. Poult. Sci. 30:777–784.[Web of Science][Medline]

Hocking, P. M., and G. W. Robertson. 2000. Ovarian follicular dynamics in selected and control (relaxed selection) male-and female-lines of broiler breeders fed ad libitum or on restricted allocations of food. Br. Poult. Sci. 41:229–234.[Web of Science][Medline]

Hocking, P. M., D. Waddington, M. A. Walker, and A. B. Gilbert. 1989. Control of the development of the ovarian follicular hierarchy in broiler breeder pullets by food restriction during rearing. Br. Poult. Sci. 30:161–173.[Web of Science][Medline]

Kirk, S., G. C. Emmans, R. McDonald, and D. Arnist. 1980. Factors affecting the hatchability of eggs from broiler breeders. Br. Poult. Sci. 21:37–43.

Leeson, S., and J. D. Summers. 1999. Broiler Breeder Production. University Books, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

Parker, H. M., and G. H. Arscott. 1964. Energy intake and fertility of male chickens. J. Nutr. 82:183–187.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Peak, S. D. 1996. A mathematical model to investigate nutritional influences on broiler breeder male fertility. MS Thesis. North Carolina State University, Raleigh.

Peak, S. D. 2001. Development of a bioenergetic growth model to determine the effect of feed allocation program on male broiler breeder growth and performance. PhD Diss. North Carolina State University, Raleigh.

Revington, W. H., E. T. Moran, Jr., and G. R. McDaniel. 1991. Performance of broiler breeder males given low protein feed. Poult. Sci. 70:139–145.[Web of Science][Medline]

Romero-Sanchez, H., and J. Brake. 2005. Effect of feed allocation program during the rearing and early production on body weight and fertility of broiler breeder males. Poult. Sci. 84(Suppl. 1):28. (Abstr.)

Romero-Sanchez, H., P. W. Plumstead, and J. Brake. 2007a. Feeding broiler breeder males. 1. Effect of feeding program and dietary crude protein during rearing on body weight and fertility. Poult. Sci. 86:168–174.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Romero-Sanchez, H., P. W. Plumstead, N. Leksrisompong, and J. Brake. 2007b. Feeding broiler breeder males. 2. Effect of cumulative rearing nutrition on body weight, shank length, comb height, and fertility. Poult. Sci. 86:175–181.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

SAS Institute. 2001. The SAS System for Windows. Release 8.02. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC.

Sexton, K. J., J. A. Renden, D. N. Marple, and R. J. Kempainen. 1989a. Effects of ad libitum and restricted feeding on semen quantity and quality, body composition, and blood chemistry of caged broiler breeder males. Poult. Sci. 68:569–576.[Web of Science][Medline]

Sexton, K. J., J. A. Renden, D. N. Marple, and R. J. Kempainen. 1989b. Effects of dietary energy on semen production, fertility, plasma testosterone, and carcass composition of broiler-breeder males in cages. Poult. Sci. 68:1688–1694.[Web of Science][Medline]

Soller, M., H. Schindler, and S. Bornstein. 1965. Semen characteristics, failure of insemination and fertility in Cornish and White Rock males. Poult. Sci. 44:425–432.

Walsh, T. J., and J. Brake. 1997. The effect of nutrient intake during rearing of broiler breeder females on subsequent fertility. Poult. Sci. 76:297–305.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Walsh, T. J., and J. Brake. 1999. Effects of feeding program and crude protein intake during rearing on fertility of broiler breeder females. Poult. Sci. 78:827–832.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

Zhang, X., W. D. Berry, G. R. McDaniel, D. A. Roland, P. Liu, C. Calvert, and R. Wilhites. 1999. Body weight and semen production of broiler breeder males as influenced by crude protein levels and feeding regimes during rearing. Poult. Sci. 78:190–196.[Abstract/Free Full Text]





This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Romero-Sanchez, H.
Right arrow Articles by Brake, J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Romero-Sanchez, H.
Right arrow Articles by Brake, J.

HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS