A Study of Semen Production in Turkeys

Low fertility in turkeys is a major problem. Since poults are produced throughout the year in some localities, high fertility during the fall and winter months has become increasingly important. Concern about comparative productiveness of individual males during the “out-of-season” period prompted this study. REVIEW OF LITERATURE Hays (1950) after 10 year's research with Rhode Island Reds concluded that sex-linked genes may regulate fertility, Blow et al. (1951) reported that fertility in turkeys was only slightly heritable. Carson and Lorenz (1953) found that Broad Breasted Bronze males usually began producing semen when from 213 to 225 days old. Semen production increased gradually until late the following summer when it decreased gradually. Carson et al. (1955a), working with 187 Broad Breasted Bronze males which were neither housed nor kept in artificially lighted areas for 2 years, found males began producing motile sperm at 132 to 291 days of age. Semen production…