The effect of different levels of single and double interspiking on reproductive performance, some body welfare and blood parameters of broiler breeder flock

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the effects of different levels single and double interspiking on reproductive performance, some body welfare and blood parameters of broiler breeder flock. The study was carried out on a total of 4224 (3840 females and 384 males) Ross 308 broiler breeders in a broiler breeder house of a private commercial poultry company, between 28 to 59 weeks of age. At 28 weeks of age, 480 females and 48 males in each trial section were randomly placed equally sized trial sections. In the study, a single interspiking was applied at the age of 45 weeks, and a double interspiking was applied at the age of 53 weeks with the ratio 75%, 50% and 25% of the males in the trial sections were changed. In the study, the effect of age on fertility ratio, hatchability of total eggs, hatchability of fertile eggs and embryonic mortality were found significant in the single and double interspiking groups (P<0.0001). While the spiking ratio affected hatchability of fertile eggs and early embryonic mortality in the single interspiking group (P<0.0001), it affected the fertility ratio, hatchability of fertile eggs (P<0.05) and early embryonic mortality in the double interspiking group (P<0.01). The effect of spiking type on fertility ratio (P<0.01), hatchability of total eggs (P<0.001) and mid term embryonic mortality were found significant (P<0.05). The interaction effect of age and spiking ratio on fertility ratio, hatchability of total eggs and hatchability of fertile eggs were found significant in the single and double interspiking groups (P<0.0001; P<0.05 and P<0.01). The interaction effects of age and spiking ratio, age and spiking type on body feather score and vent score were found not significant in single and double interspiking group (P>0.05). In the study, the effect of spiking ratio on blood eosinophil and basophil ratio in the single interspiking group (P<0.05), while effect spiking ratio and type were found not significant in the double interspiking group (P>0.05).