Short Communication

 

Effect of Interspiking on Fertility and Hatchability of Vanaraja Chicken Parents

 

Smita Patil, V.N. Khune*, Sharad Mishra, Nishma Singh, M.D. Bobade, Vandana Bhagat

College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Anjora, Durg (Chhattisgarh), India.

 

Editor | Asghar Ali Kamboh, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan.

Received | November 27, 2018; Accepted | May 13, 2019; Published | June 08, 2019

*Correspondence | V N Khune, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Anjora, Durg (Chhattisgarh), India; Email: [email protected]

Citation | Patil S, Khune VN, Mishra S, Singh N, Bobade MD, Bhagat V (2019). Effect of interspiking on fertility and hatchability of vanaraja chicken parents. J. Anim. Health Prod. 7(2): 65-69.

DOI | http://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.jahp/2019/7.2.65.69

ISSN | 2308-2801

Copyright © 2019 Patil et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

 

INTRODUCTION

Poultry production is the fastest growing sector of Indian agriculture. As per 19th livestock Census (2012) poultry population in India is 729.2 millions, the total poultry population has increased by 12.39 percent over the previous census. Having realized the importance of backyard farming, a long-term program has been initiated at Project Directorate on Poultry (PDP), Hyderabad to develop a suitable germplasm for backyard/free range farming. The Directorate has evolved “Vanaraja” variety utilizing the Red Cornish as male line and random bred meat control population as dam line. Vanaraja was released in the year 1998 at 46th Livestock and poultry show (Rao and Preetam, 2009). The male and female breeder parents of Vanaraja are the strain crosses.

 

It is widely known that fertility levels will naturally decline with age in a normal broiler breeder flock’s production (Wood-Gush, 1958; Novikov, 1979; Kirk et al., 1980; Sexton et al., 1989; Weil et al., 1999; McGary et al., 2002). Fertility usually increases (65-75%) at the start of lay (23-24 weeks of age (WOA)) and peaks at 95-98% at 35-37 WOA. Between 40-45 WOA fertility declines, older birds get faster decline in fertility (Wilson, 2002). In broiler flocks, the fertility rate decreases with increasing age from 40 to 45 weeks. Therefore, different methods are used to compensate for the reduced fertility caused by the aging of the rooster and the most important of them is the movement inside the rooster flocks or interspiking (Sharifi et. al., 2018). At this stage the rooster mating frequency is lower and physiologically the hen needs to be mated more often to maintain fertility. Breeder hens begun to lay eggs with relatively low fertility levels of around 65-75 percent (Wilson, 2002). As flocks approached 40 WOA, fertility levels begun to decline, which is usually attributed to a problem with the roosters (Casanovas, 2002; Wilson, 2002; Wolanski et al., 2004). In a normal flock setting, production guides recommended one rooster necessary for every eight to twelve hens. Therefore, the effects of only one infertile rooster will extend to a large population of the flock (eight to twelve hens) and could cause a greater detrimental impact on fertility levels (Wilson et al., 1979).

 

A common practice in industry is to apply a male management practice to an already established flock in order to counteract the decline in fertility levels. One practice that is most commonly used in industry today is known as spiking. This practice requires the introduction of young, unfamiliar, inexperienced birds into an already established flock. A second, less commonly researched male management practice is the use of interspiking. This practice requires the exchange of experienced males between two different poultry houses located on the same farm at two different time points during the life of the flocks, the concept is that the introduction of any new male, regardless of its age, will affect fertility levels of an established flock (Chung, 2010). In view of above findings, present investigation was undertaken with objectives to study the fertility and hatchability traits of and to evaluate the effect of male interspiking on these traits in Vanaraja parents.

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS

 

Birds, Housing and Management

The investigation was carried out at the Poultry farm of Vanaraja parents at Poultry Seed Project, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Anjora, Durg during March and April, 2016. In this study, a total of 270 Vanaraja breeder chickens (240 females, 30 males) were utilised. All chickens were of 48 weeks old at the start of the experiment and were reared under deep litter with standard management practices. Chickens were separated into three different pens (treatments – T0, T1 and T2) each containing 78-79 females and 10-11 males in order to maintain female to male ratio of 8 to 1. Each pen had an enclosure area of 12 X 20 sq.ft. in the poultry farm of Vanaraja parents at Poultry Seed Project. Identification tags were applied to all the roosters in the three rooms (pens).

 

Interspiking involves the transfer of roosters between two pens at a time. In this experiment interspiking was applied when birds were 48 WOA. Roosters of pen T1 and T2 were interspiked and T0 was used as the control pen and were remained undisturbed. At 49th WOA, about 30 percent of the rooster populations were transferred between pen two and pen three. Of the total roosters in the T1 pen three roosters were transferred into T2 pen and from T2 pen three roosters were transferred into T1 pen.

 

Parameters Studied

On the 8th day of the incubation cycle, eggs were candled in order to determine if the eggs were fertile or not. This number was then used to calculate the fertility percentage of individual pens using the following equation-

 

Fertility percentage =

 

Total Eggs Set - Infertile Eggs

-------------------------------- x 100

Total Eggs Set

 

Hatchability was determined at specific interval in the experiment as below:

 

Pre-interspike (48 WOA),

Week of Interspike (49 WOA),

Post Interspike (52 WOA),

At the end of Productive life (55 WOA).

 

From all the four treatments, eggs were collected separately on daily basis and stored at 210C temperature. The eggs with visible external abnormalities were discarded. In a week, 150 experimental eggs were randomly selected from each pen and a sum of 450 eggs obtained from the three pens was set in setter of incubator for incubation at the end of week. After hatching chicks were counted. Hatchability percentage was estimated on the basis of total egg set (TES) i.e., both fertile and infertile and on the basis of fertile eggs (FES) as per following formulae:

 

(a) Hatchability percentage (on total egg set basis):

Hatchability (TES) percentage =

 

Number of Hatched Chicks

----------------------------- x 100

Total Eggs Set

 

(b) Hatchability percentage (on fertile egg set basis):

Hatchability (FES) percentage =

 

Number of Hatched Chicks

------------------------------ x 100

Fertile Eggs set

 

Statistical Analysis

The effect of interspiking and age on the fertility and hatchability were calculated by chi-square test for independence {r x c contingency table with (r-1) (c-1) d.f.} as per procedure given by Snedecor and Cochran (1994).

 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

 

Fertility

In the present study, the mean fertility rate at 48th WOA was 86.66 percent in Vanaraja. The mean fertility rates at 49th, 52nd and 55th WOA were 88.00, 91.33 and 92.00 percent respectively. All the fertility values of different treatment groups in their respective age group did not differ significantly. Initial reduction in fertility rates were observed at 49th WOA. However, an increase in fertility rates was observed at 52nd and 55th WOA in the interspiked groups. At 49 WOA, the fertility rates in T1 (86.66%) and T2 (85.33%) pens were lower than that of T0 (88.00%) (Table 1). In subsequent weeks, an increase in the fertility rates was observed in all the groups. However, more increase was observed in the interspiked T1 and T2 groups.

 

As a flock age approaches 40 WOA, fertility levels begin to decline in the roosters. Roosters become less interested and able to complete mating as the age advance. In order to get the same fertility level, older flocks should be paid more attention to rooster management programs, like spiking programme which has been proved helpful (Sluis, 2014). Casanovas, (2002) reported that change in location and social group will cause an increase in mating behavior thereby compensating for the loss in libido and mating interest of older roosters. Wilson, (2002) investigated that as a result of double interspiking, just like when spiking is used, sexual activity increased among males in a flock and an improvement in fertility levels occured. Due to the first interspike and the transfer of males between the two houses, mating frequency increase for four to eight weeks among all males.

 

The present study showed variation in fertility rates within a breed in different flocks which may be either due to ability of males to produce viable sperms or frequency of mating in the flock. This finding is congruent with results observed by Sexton et al. (1989), Hocking and Bernard (2000), and McGary et al. (2002). The interspiked flocks also showed a trend of higher fertility levels up to six weeks of experiment. In this context it was observed that the spiking results in a 1-3% increased fertility over a period of 5-10 weeks. Although in broiler breeds more than 90% levels of fertility were observed up to 60th WOA (Casanovas, 2002).

 

In present investigation, the interspiking period started by 49th WOA. In order to counteract decline in fertility rate in broiler breeder early scheduling of interspiking was advocated at 40th WOA (Wilson, 2002) and 42nd WOA (Casanovas, 2002).

 

In present study, an increasing trend in fertility rates of interspiked groups could be attributed to interspiking of roosters of Vanaraja parents. Therefore, an interspiking of Vanaraja males at 49th WOA can be advantageous, especially in flocks showing lower fertility rate.

 

The results of the present study alludes that the 1:8 cock to hen ratio in all three pens was better in evaluating fertility rate and hatchability before and after interspiking in equally potential fertile Vanaraja parent flock.

 

Hatchability (TES)

In the present study, the mean TES hatchability rates at 48th, 49th, 52nd and 55th WOA were 75.33, 77.11, 81.55 and 82.89 percent, respectively (Table 1). TES hatchability values at 52nd and 55th WOA in interspiked groups were higher than those of non interspiked groups. However, all values of TES hatchability were non significant. Besides this in all the treatment groups as the age advances, increase in TES hatchability rates were associated with higher fertility.

 

Furthermore increase hatchability was observed in interspiked groups (T1 and T2) than the control (T0). This increasing trend in TES hatchability rates of interspiked groups might be due to differences in the fertility rates as observed in interspiking of roosters of Vanaraja parents. Hence interspiking of Vanaraja males could be beneficial at 48th WOA.

 

In contrast to this Hocking and Bernard (2000) did not observed significant effect on hatchability after application of double spiking of the flock. Further they stated that aging roosters are not the cause of declining hatchability levels. The results of present investigation were at par with the findings observed by Chung et al. (2010). While, Kumar, (2010) observed lower mean TES hatchability percentage of 71.67 percent in Vanaraja parents at 28-35 weeks of age as compared to present findings.

 

Hatchability (FES)

In the present study, the mean FES hatchability rates at 48th, 49th, 52nd and 55th WOA were 86.92, 87.62, 89.29 and 90.10 percent in Vanaraja breeders. In all the age groups at 48th, 49th, 52nd and 55th weeks, there were no significant differences in hatchability rates on the basis of fertile eggs set among the treatments. Although with the advancement of age higher fertility rates in all the groups were associated with increased hatchability of fertile eggs (Table 1).

 

Similar to the findings of present experiment, Casanovas (2002) had observed increase in hatchability levels following interspiking which were lasted for 15 weeks in broiler breeders. In present investigation, high hatchability rates were observed in Vanaraja parents could be attributed to interspiking.

 

Table 1: Percentage of fertility and hatchability before and after interspiking in Vanaraja chicken parents (from 48 to 55 weeks of age).

 

	Weeks of Age (WOA)
Pens	48 WOA	49 WOA	52 WOA	55 WOA
	Fertility %
T0	88.00	90.00	90.66	90.66
T1	86.66	87.33	92.66	93.33
T2	85.33	86.66	90.66	92.00
Overall	86.66	88.00	91.33	92.00
	Hatchability (TES) %
T0	76.00	78.67	79.33	80.00
T1	75.33	76.66	83.33	84.66
T2	74.66	76.00	82.00	84.00
Overall	75.33	77.11	81.55	82.88
	Hatchability (FES) %
T0	86.36	87.40	87.50	88.23
T1	86.92	87.78	89.92	90.71
T2	87.50	87.69	90.44	91.30
Overall	86.92	87.62	89.29	90.09

 

TES: Fertility on Total Egg Set basis; FES: Fertility on Fertile Egg Set basis.

 

CONCLUSION

 

It can be concluded from present study that the interspiking of Vanaraja male parents has been found advantageous to increase the fertility and hatchability rates.

 

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

 

There is no conflict of interest.

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

 

The authors thank Dean, College of Veterinary Science and A.H., Anjora, Durg and the Principal Investigator, Poultry Seed Project, Durg for providing all the necessary facilities for the study.

 

authors contribution

 

The research article is a part of MVSc thesis submitted by the first author under the guidance of the next. Other authors have equally contributed in analyzing the experimental data.

 

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