Influence of male-male competition on reproductive performance and mortality of broiler breeders following intra-spiking

Impact of different ratios of single and double interspiking on reproductive performance, some body welfare, and blood parameters of broiler breeders

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different levels of single and double interspiking on reproductive performance, some body welfare, and blood parameters of broiler breeder flock. The study was carried out on a total of 3840 female and 384 male (with average weight 4706.07 ± 307.9 g) Ross 308 broiler breeders having age between 28 to 59 weeks in a broiler breeder house (40°13'16.3″N, 28°48'19.8″E) of a private commercial poultry company. A single interspiking was applied at the age of 45 weeks, and a double interspiking was applied at the age of 53 weeks with the ratio 75, 50, and 25% of the males in the trial groups were changed. The age was affected fertility ratio, hatchability of total eggs, and hatchability of fertile eggs in the single and double interspiking groups (P < 0.0001). While the spiking ratio was affected hatchability of fertile eggs in the single interspiking group (P < 0.0001), it was affected the fertility ratio, hatchability of fertile eggs in the double interspiking group (P = 0.015 and P = 0.024). The spiking type was affected fertility ratio and hatchability of total eggs (P = 0.002 and P = 0.001). The age and spiking ratio interaction was affected fertility ratio, hatchability of total eggs, and hatchability of fertile eggs in the single (P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001, and P = 0.053; respectively), and double interspiking groups (P = 0.015, P = 0.009, and P = 0.008; respectively). The age and spiking ratio and age- and spiking-type interaction were not affected body feather score and vent score in single and double interspiking group (P > 0.05). The age, spiking ratio, and type were not affected blood heterophil, lymphocyte, and heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio in the single and double interspiking group (P > 0.05). In conclusion, spiking program can be applied to the flocks which have poor management conditions and/or have less fertility traits.