Genetic Evaluation of Roosters for Fertility and Hatchability According to Semen Index and Individual Semen Traits

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the 24 roosters according to semen index (SI) which included several semen traits and because this method is time consuming and technically difficult, other methods for evaluation of roosters depend on individual semen traits, were applied as practical methods. Spearman's coefficients of rank correlations were estimated between BLUP of semen index and BLUP of several semen traits to investigate the possibility of using one semen trait instead of semen index in evaluation of roosters. BLUP values of mass motility had the highest coefficient of rank correlation (0.71) with the BLUP values of SI. The results of this study could consider good evidence of using mass motility for evaluated roosters for fertility and hatchability.