Evaluation of fertility, embryonic mortality and malpositions in two selected strains of White Leghorn and their crosses

A total of 196239 eggs pertaining to two selected strains of White Leghorn (PL1 and PL2) and their contemporarily reared crosses over 8 consecutive generation were incubated for evaluation of reproductive traits viz; fertility, embryonic mortality and malposistions. Strain PL2 had significantly higher incidence of dirty eggs, total embryonic mortality and malpositions which indicated it's higher genetic load as compared to PL1. The crosses had lower embryonic mortality. Malposition V and VI occurred with higher frequencies in all the unhatched embryos as well as in the pips. The pures and crosses did not differ from one another in the frequencies of various malpositions. The results indicated the inter-strain/genetic group variability for fertility, embryonic mortality and malpositions