Influence of Ambient Temperature on Reproductive Traits of Male and Female Chickens ,

ENVIRONMENTAL temperature has been shown to be an important contributor to seasonal variation in reproductive activity of chickens. However, the extent to which the male and female are respectively implicated in seasonal reproductive changes has not been fully described. Extremes in ambient temperature, both cool (30°–55°F.) and warm (70°–100°F.), have resulted in reductions in egg yields of similar magnitude (Qark et al., 1963). Semen production and density are also both seasonally influenced. Higher yields of semen have been obtained in fall and winter months than in spring and summer months, while semen density has been shown to be both lower (Parker and McSpadden, 1943) and higher (Wheeler and Andrews, 1943; Polge, 1951) in the warmer months of the year. Perek and Snapir (1963) found no differences in semen yields at temperatures of 20°, 23° or 26°C. It has been shown, however, that semen yield was positively correlated with . . .