Ovarian Follicular Development in Egg and Meat Type Turkeys

Abstract

Irregular oviposition and the production of a large percentage of abnormal eggs were observed by Jaap and Muir (1968) in five strains of broiler chickens. The frequency of membrane eggs, softshelled eggs, double-yolked eggs and two eggs laid in 24 hours was much larger in broiler-type pullets than in egg-type pullets. The broiler pullets did not exhibit a normal sequence or rhythm of days on which an egg was laid or missed as is normally observed with egg-type chickens. Erratic ovulation timing was believed to be involved in the egg production syndrome of broiler pullets. Jaap and Clancy (1968) observed upon post-mortem that one of the broiler strains had more yolks in rapid development (0.6 gram and up) than an egg-type strain (6.5 VS. 5.6). This broiler strain also produced about ten times as many abnormal eggs as the egg strain.…