Natural mating techniques for breeding white-feathered broilers

(i) Ratio of males to females

Male to female ratio refers to the number of hens per rooster. For example, the ratio of male to female of fast-growing white feather broilers was 1:8~10, that of high-quality white feather broilers was 1:9~12, and that of egg-type broilers was 1:10~13. If it is online flat feeding, the lower limit should be taken; the upper limit can be taken before 40 weeks old, and the lower limit can be taken after 40 weeks old. The number of copulations between cocks and hens can reach 20~30 times per day. 73.7% of the mating frequency occurred between 3 and 7 p.m., and 47.4% occurred between 5 and 7 p.m. Two hours before sunset, both males and females are sexually active, and some hens even actively attract cocks to mate. This phenomenon of natural mating of cocks is consistent with the optimal time of insemination after 3 p.m.

(ii) Mixed group arrangement

When the chickens are close to sexual maturity, white chickens need to be transferred from young chicken houses to adult chicken houses. When turning, consider turning cocks 4 to 5 days earlier than hens. After 20 weeks of age, the selected breeding cocks were mixed with hens according to 8%~10% of the number of hens, so that the cocks were familiar with the chicken house environment. From 20 to 30 weeks of age, breeders observed asexual behavior of cocks. If the rooster is in poor physical condition, sexual desire is not strong or semen quality is poor, the rooster should be given 1.5~2 grams of feed or milk powder per chicken per day to promote sexual maturity. Breeder cocks reach sexual maturity at 28~30 weeks of age and have the highest sexual desire and strong breeding ability at 30~36 weeks of age. The breeding frequency is many, the fertilization rate is high. After 48 weeks of age, the sexual desire of cocks begins to decline. In order to ensure a higher fertilization rate, the ratio of male to female must be reduced appropriately to reduce the breeding task of each cock. In addition, the breeding ability of cocks is related to season and climate. The climate is suitable in spring and autumn. Breeder cock energetic, the proportion of male and female can be appropriately larger; summer and winter season, the temperature is too high or too low will also affect the breeding ability of breeder cock, at this time should consider increasing the number of breeder cocks, so that the proportion of male and female slightly smaller.

During the birth process, usually 25% to 30% of the cock breeding ability decline, semen quality decline, including overweight, underweight, leg problems or obviously do not mate cock. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the proportion of male and female in time according to the health status of cocks, and eliminate weak, sick and useless cocks. When the number of roosters is lower than the demand, the optimum fertilization rate cannot be obtained. They must be replaced with new roosters. Roosters are best replaced with a spare rooster. Roosters transferred from another flock increase the risk of disease transmission and cause stress reactions. Roosters should be replaced with minimal disruption to pecking order. Usually in the evening the rooster planned to be eliminated is taken out and the replacement rooster is immediately released into the flock. In order to prevent pecking, cocks in the same flock should be replaced or removed together, and should not be mixed with each other. The fact that replacement roosters do not hatch at a higher rate than the highest recorded for the original flock underlines the importance of sexually mature roosters being in good shape at the start of their lives.