Мorphometric and reproductive indicators of roosters with hyper- and hypogonadism in the pre-functional period

The effect of testicular mass in the prefunctional period on the morphometric and reproductive indices of roosters was studied. Ultrasound diagnostics were used to determine the size of the testicles. It is established that roosters of line A Birkivska barvysta (silver leghorn) are heterogeneous in weight of testicles in the prefunctional period; they should be distinguished as B- and M-roosters with a relative weight of testicles, respectively, up to and more than 40 mg/100 g. The incubation indices of egg quality were determined in two groups of chickens with 32 heads each with their content with roosters selected by live weight, the size of the comb and testicles. In the first and second groups of chickens were planted roosters with testicles 12-17 and 7-8 mm long at 4 months of age, respectively. In B-roosters, compared to M-roosters, the advantages of sperm (higher concentration, greater motility) were found, and higher egg fertilization when kept with chickens. The severity of correlative relationships between body masses, combs, and testicles in B-roosters is significantly less than that of M-roosters, which is probably due to their lower sensitivity to stress factors. The ratio of the mass of the comb to the mass of the testicles (C/T), whose numerical expression was in the range from 1.6 to 49, may be a new morphometric characteristic of the rooster. Of the 4-month-old offspring of B-roosters, 8 heads were selected for live weight, ridge sizes and testicular lengths within 16-20 mm. 8 groups of chickens of 8 each were also formed; a rooster was planted in each group. The total fertilization of eggs on 4 tabs within two months was 98%. It is concluded that the morphophysiological features of B-roosters persist in the offspring.