Effect of long term selection for juvenile body weight and egg production on semen quality in broiler breeder dam line

Present study investigated the effect of long term selection for juvenile body weight and egg production on semen quality in broiler breeder dam line. Semen from males of line selected for juvenile body weight and part period egg production for 19 generations and from control population that was not under any selection programme was collected evaluated for different semen parameters like volume, appearance, motility, concentration, fertilizing ability, live, dead and abnormal spermatozoa. Seminal plasma of the two lines was analysed for protein, cholesterol and nitric oxide levels. The line under selection had significantly (P < 0.05) lower values in fertilizing ability, protein, cholesterol and nitric oxide levels in comparison to control line. These results suggest that selection for higher body weight and egg production in broiler breeders affects the semen quality and fertilizing ability.