IPVL technique
shows number of
spermatozoa that
penetrate ova ... only
ONE reaches gamete fusion.

Average hatchability

• 85 – 87 % Good
• 82 – 84 % Average
• 79 – 81 % Poor

Starting Males

• At day old, males are smaller and less uniform than females. Smaller egg size.
• They have been detoed, sometimes partially dubbed. More stress.
• First feed ingesta: critical x early intestinal development… long term consequences
• Use of light.

Males: Growth Pattern Strategies

• Low B.W. target (breeder recommendations) is ideal. However, uniformity is critical. Used when equipment and density are optimum.
• Slightly Higher B.W. target (one week advance).  May give better uniformity - longer legs, good keels.
• The Indicator is Uniformity: > 80% at all times.

Males. Beak Trimming

• 7 – 10 days: touch
• 6 weeks: checking (at selection)
• 18 weeks: checking – critical for good mating balance >>> fertility

Rearing The Males ( Feeding)

Male Selection

• Objective: Optimize uniformity
• Selection:

- At 6 weeks – to monitor / adjust growth pattern.

- At 18 weeks – to transfer and mate the best: fleshing, legs, toes, beak, general conformation.

GROWING PERIOD

Weight control targets

• Week 1: 120 g
• Week 2: 300 g
• Week 3: 450 g
• Week 4: 600 g
• Week 6: 880 g
• Week 12:  1,700 g
• Week 20: 2,800 g

Objective: good skeletal development at 4-6 weeks

Male Sexual Development

Three Periods:

• Pre-puberty: DO to 13-14 weeks. Slow testicular growth, critical Sertoli cells multiplication >>> optimum sperm count depends on Sertoli cells determined at this age.

• Puberty: 13-14 weeks >>> 24 weeks approx. Rapid testicular growth… semen production begins.

• Adult Phase: 25 weeks onwards. Testicular growth completed by 30  weeks >>> remains same up to 40 weeks, then begins to shrink gradually

Criteria In Males

• Monitoring Body Weight
• Body condition
• Controlling frame size
• Uniformity

High Yield Males

• Requires long legs, bones and tendons, strong / straight toes, lean breast.
• Balance at copulation >>> male slide off the female >>> frustration >>> aggression >>> female mortality.

Male Body Weight

Guidelines

• At 21 weeks ………….. 2.9 kg
• At 29 weeks ………….. 3.9 kg
• At 64 weeks ………….. 4.8 kg

Fertility and Weight Gain

• If 21 – 29 week growth not achieved, then no persistency of fertility.
• Occurs with both over or under weight males.

Male Weight Gain

Growth

• 21 – 29 weeks ……… 18 g /day
• 29 – 44 weeks ………. 4 g / day

 Feed allowances… how much ?

• Maintenance represents largest feed need
• Each kg of body mass needs 35 gr feed for maintenance
• >>> a 3 kg male needs 3 x 35 = 105 g for maintenance (@ 25°C)

"Window of Opportunity" (21-25 weeks)

This period is critical… may determine good or bad persistency of  fertility… males may have access to female feed…B.W. out of control…

• Weekly body weight gain 110 – 135 g
• Weighing / handling weekly
• Grill / Dubbing ?  high profile
  (43 mm in width, 70 mm height max. for full comb males
  For dubbed males grill height to be 60 mm max.)
• Full comb (or partial) ?
• "Nose-bar"  ?

How much feed ?

Maintenance 105 g

Growth 40 g
====================
Total 145 g

Feeding Males (35-64 weeks)

• Slow growth, majority of feed is for maintenance.
• If males are overweight 200-400 g reduce feed intake by 5 g/bird/day.
• If males ate overweight > 500 g, use low nutrient density diet.

Males Breast Fleshing

Males Breast Fleshing

Male – Female Ratio

• 21 weeks – peak  9 – 10 %
  (aggression ?)
• Peak – 65 weeks 8 – 9 %
• Spiking add 2 – 3 %
  (45 weeks…)

Potential Performance

The information given and the recommendations made in this communication are based on our own field experience and refercences takjen from scientific and technical publications available to the poultry industry.

The recipient understands that such recommendations may be applied under a variety of envoronmental conditions beyond Hubbad ISA knowledge or control. Furthermore, the adoption of any such recommendations must be subjected to local laws, regulkations and standards which may apply.

For this reason, all warranties whether express or implied are excluded and Hubbad ISA grants no warranty regarding the fitness of these recommendations or the product for any purpose of the merchantability thereof.