1468 RESEARCH NOTES SEMEN CHARACTERISTICS OF LINES SELECTED FOR INCREASED PART-RECORD EGG PRODUCTION

ABSTRACT In three strains of White Leghorns, 40 males were taken from each of the two lines selected for increased egg production and 40 males from their base popula-tion. In the first of two experiments semen was collected three times per day on alternate days, while in the second experiment each male was ejaculated three times daily over a period of 5 days. In neither experiment was there any difference in either semen volume or sperm numbers between the selected strains and the control strain. These results appear to preclude the use of semen characteristics as a means of apply-ing more precise male selection in lines selected for egg production