Dam and Sire Effects on Sperm Penetration of the Perivitelline Layer of Eggs Produced by Two Strains of Commercial Turkeys

The reproductive performance of 2 commercial turkey breeder lines was examined using reciprocal crosses between sires and dams of each line. One line had been selected using artificial inseminations performed at biweekly intervals, whereas the second line had been selected using inseminations performed at weekly intervals. The hypothesis was proposed that sires and dams of the 2 lines differ because of different abilities for sperm to penetrate the inner perivitelline layer (IPVL) and fertilize eggs. Fertilized eggs to hatch poults for the experiment were obtained from the primary breeders and were incubated using conditions recommended by the industry. Hens (n = 72) and toms (n = 15) from each strain were identified and reared in preparation for a reproductive cycle using commercially accepted standards. Beginning just prior to the onset of egg production and at weekly intervals thereafter, half of the hens were inseminated with semen from males of the same line, whereas the remaining half received semen from the opposite line. Eggs were collected from the pens daily and set in incubators to determine fertility and embryo survival. At biweekly intervals 3 eggs per pen were used for counting sperm penetration holes in the IPVL. Data were collected for fertility, hatchability, and time that embryos died for each of the pens. Dam and sire affected IPVL penetration independently. A dam by sire interaction influenced fertility, whereas hatchability was affected only by dam. Thus, it is concluded that selection of dam and sires for commercial breeders alters IPVL sperm penetration ability of hens as well as egg-binding ability of sires.