Impact of different mating sex ratios on reproductive efficiency of silver pheasant Lophura nycthemera (Galliformes, Phasianidae)

Abstract

The present study was conducted to evaluate the impact of different mating ratios (male female) on egg production, egg fertilization %, egg hatching % and courtship behavior in Silver Pheasant Lophura nycthemera at three stations for a period of 16 weeks. The birds were kept in four groups with following male female ratios: Group A (1:2), Group B (1:3), Group C (1:4) and Group D (1:5). The results showed that Group B (1:3) ratio has significant effect on mean number of eggs (1.75 ± 0.15), Group C (1:4) on weight of eggs (93.22 ± 5.02), Group C (1:4) and Group D (1:5) on egg fertilization and hatching % while Group B (1:3), Group C (1:4) and Group D (1:5) on time spent in mating. The feed consumed and feed conversion ratio was significant in Group D (1:5).

Effects of Protein in Diet and Sex Ratio on Egg Production, Egg and Hatching Chick Weight, Fertility, Hatchability and Embryonal Mortality in Pheasants (Phasianus Colchicus)

“…Namely, egg and hatching weight for 7:1 were determined 1.28%, 1.73% higher than those of 5:1 respectively (Table 2). Likewise, a study with silver pheasant (Lophura nychemera) reported that an increase in male-female ratio from 1:2 to 1:5 mating ratio showed a positive effect on egg weight (Kaleem et al, 2015). However, these results are lacking explanation for this effect.…”