THE EFFECT OF RATIOS AND NUMBERS OF SPERMATOZOA MIXED FROM TWO MALES ON PROPORTIONS OF OFFSPRING

Abstract

Summary. When mixtures of semen containing an equal number of spermatozoa from two males are inseminated, the males usually sire disproportionate numbers of the offspring. In this study, when a mixture of equal numbers of spermatozoa from a Columbian (C) and a Leghorn (L1) cock was inseminated, the C male sired 34% of the offspring. The proportion of offspring was constant regardless of age of males, season, total number of spermatozoa, breed of hen or the interval from insemination to the time of egg-lay over a 15-day period after insemination. The proportion of C offspring observed from inseminating nine different ratios of spermatozoa arranged progressively from 1C:9L, 2C:8L and so on, was 10%, 20%, 23%, 34%, 38%, 44%, 58%, 74% and 82%. These results were in close agreement with mathematically derived estimates. It appears that the relationship between sperm ratios and the proportions of offspring sired by two males competing heterospermically is dependent on the ratio of the number of competing spermatozoa but not on total number, season, breed of hen or the interval from insemination to fertilization.