<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> It is widely practiced that before mating the roosters are selected as reproducers mainly on the basis of head ornaments appearance. Relationship between males secondary sexual traits (comb and wattles) with testes size, as all of them are testosterone-dependent traits, were examined. Measurements of head ornaments and testes from two broiler breeder lines and two laying lines of chicken were correlated. The value of fluctuating asymmetry (FA) of bilateral traits was also measured. Positive correlations were found for head ornaments and testes weight in one of broiler breeder lines. No correlations were found for males of laying lines. The degree of FA did not differ between lines, except for FA of wattle length, which was higher (P≤0.05) for one of the broiler lines. Results obtained indicated that head ornaments cannot be used as the only criterion for rooster selection as reproducers.</p></abstract>

It is widely practiced that before mating the roosters are selected as reproducers mainly on the basis of head ornaments appearance. Relationship between males secondary sexual traits (comb and wattles) with testes size, as all of them are testosterone-dependent traits, were examined. Measurements of head ornaments and testes from two broiler breeder lines and two laying lines of chicken were correlated. The value of fluctuating asymmetry (FA) of bilateral traits was also measured. Positive correlations were found for head ornaments and testes weight in one of broiler breeder lines. No correlations were found for males of laying lines. The degree of FA did not differ between lines, except for FA of wattle length, which was higher (P≤0.05) for one of the broiler lines. Results obtained indicated that head ornaments cannot be used as the only criterion for rooster selection as reproducers.

Can roosters′ head ornaments serve as a criterion for their selection as a valuable reproducers?

Annals of Animal Science

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It is widely practiced that before mating the roosters are selected as reproducers mainly on the basis of head ornaments appearance. Relationship between males...

Can roosters′ head ornaments serve as a criterion for their selection as a valuable reproducers?

Article Category: The biology, physiology, reproduction, and health

Published Online: Aug 01, 2017

Page range: 747 - 755

Received: Jun 29, 2016

Accepted: Dec 13, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/aoas-2016-0081

Keywords
roosters, head ornaments, secondary sexual traits, testes size

© by Ewa Łukaszewicz

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Can roosters′ head ornaments serve as a criterion for their selection as a valuable reproducers?

Article Category: The biology, physiology, reproduction, and health

Published Online: Aug 01, 2017

Page range: 747 - 755

Received: Jun 29, 2016

Accepted: Dec 13, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/aoas-2016-0081

Keywordsroosters, head ornaments, secondary sexual traits, testes size

© by Ewa Łukaszewicz

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
roosters, head ornaments, secondary sexual traits, testes size