Yolk size and ovulation order determine fertility within double-yolked duck (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus) eggs
Attila Salamon A B C and John P. Kent B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
B Ballyrichard House, Arklow, Co. Wicklow, Ireland.
C Corresponding author. Email: attila.salamon@ucdconnect.ie
Reproduction, Fertility and Development 28(4) 440-445 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD14059
Submitted: 16 February 2014 Accepted: 24 June 2014 Published: 11 August 2014
Abstract
Herein we examined the effects of yolk size and ovulation order on the fertilisation of yolks within double-yolked (DY) duck eggs. Single-yolked (SY) duck eggs had high fertility (89.98%), whereas in DY duck eggs fertility was low (51.9% yolks). The yolks closer to the airspace (Yolk 1) in DY eggs had higher fertility (68.82% vs 34.98% for Yolk 2; P < 0.001). When only one of the two yolks was fertilised, Yolk 1 was fertilised in 99.12% of those eggs. Yolk 1 is presumed to be the first ovulated. The higher fertility of Yolk 1 is consistent with a primacy effect where the first ovulation has a higher probability of achieving fertilisation. Small DY eggs within the normal SY egg weight range (75–104.9 g) had significantly lower yolk fertility (47.91%; n = 550) compared with large (≥105 g) DY eggs (54.56%; n = 768; P < 0.001). Yolk 1 fertility was lower in small compared with large DY eggs (64.18% vs 72.14%, respectively; P = 0.003). Although Yolk 2 fertility was low, it was not affected by egg size. DY eggs with zero fertilised yolks were significantly lighter than DY eggs with one (P = 0.007) or two (P < 0.001) fertilised yolks (i.e. larger DY eggs were more likely to have fertilised yolks). Larger eggs (≥105 g) have larger yolks and the evidence here shows that an optimal yolk size is a significant positive factor in achieving fertilization by dislodging spermatozoa, after ovulation, from their storage sites.
Additional keywords: egg weight, fertilisation.
References
Aitken, R. N. C. (1971). The oviduct. In ‘Physiology and Biochemistry of the Domestic Fowl, Vol. 3.’ (Eds D. J. Bell and B. M. Freeman.) pp. 1237–1289. (Academic Press: London.)Álvarez, R., and Hocking, P. M. (2012). Changes in ovarian function and egg production in commercial broiler breeders through 40 weeks of lay. Br. Poult. Sci. 53, 386–393.
| Changes in ovarian function and egg production in commercial broiler breeders through 40 weeks of lay.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22978596PubMed |
Applegate, T. J., Harper, D., and Lilburn, M. S. (1998). Effect of hen production age on egg composition and embryo development in commercial Pekin ducks. Poult. Sci. 77, 1608–1612.
| Effect of hen production age on egg composition and embryo development in commercial Pekin ducks.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK1M%2FltV2qtA%3D%3D&md5=89c61084b8e673b8fd1b63535f515f01CAS | 9835332PubMed |
Bakst, M. R. (1981). Sperm recovery from oviducts of turkeys at known intervals after insemination and oviposition. J. Reprod. Fertil. 62, 159–164.
| Sperm recovery from oviducts of turkeys at known intervals after insemination and oviposition.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaL3M7psVCrug%3D%3D&md5=a92a5fa7568a488b185860fa6de3d8ffCAS | 7230121PubMed |
Bakst, M. R. (1998). Structure of the avian oviduct with emphasis on sperm storage in poultry. J. Exp. Zool. 282, 618–626.
| Structure of the avian oviduct with emphasis on sperm storage in poultry.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK1M%2FitVersg%3D%3D&md5=0a40ecf2da7b9f5dc7919936bc1b0659CAS | 9803539PubMed |
Bakst, M. R. (2011). Role of the oviduct in maintaining sustained fertility in hens. J. Anim. Sci. 89, 1323–1329.
| Role of the oviduct in maintaining sustained fertility in hens.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXls1Oitbg%3D&md5=3785bc252f8e4c35503056187eabfa9eCAS | 21169513PubMed |
Burke, W. H., and Ogasawara, F. X. (1969). Presence of spermatozoa in uterovaginal fluids of the hen at various stages of the ovulatory cycle. Poult. Sci. 48, 408–413.
| Presence of spermatozoa in uterovaginal fluids of the hen at various stages of the ovulatory cycle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaE3c%2FltVKgsQ%3D%3D&md5=19a738c262cafe42e43efa650495443eCAS | 5389861PubMed |
Burke, W. H., Henry, M. H., and Elezaj, I. (1997). Comparison of embryos and chicks that developed as single individuals in double yolk eggs with those developed in single yolk eggs. Poult. Sci. 76, 901–907.
| Comparison of embryos and chicks that developed as single individuals in double yolk eggs with those developed in single yolk eggs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK2szisFGksQ%3D%3D&md5=587e2313c14ce747b0e96bd8b7e32688CAS | 9181626PubMed |
Christmas, R. B., and Harms, R. H. (1982). Incidence of double yolked eggs in the initial stages of lay as affected by strain and season of the year. Poult. Sci. 61, 1290–1292.
| Incidence of double yolked eggs in the initial stages of lay as affected by strain and season of the year.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Curtis, M. R. (1914). Studies on the physiology of reproduction in the domestic fowl. VI. Double- and triple-yolked eggs. Biol. Bull. 26, 55–83.
| Studies on the physiology of reproduction in the domestic fowl. VI. Double- and triple-yolked eggs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Curtis, M. R. (1915). Relation of simultaneous ovulation to the production of double-yolked eggs. J. Agric. Res. 3, 375–386.
Deeming, D. C. (2007). Allometry of mass and composition in bird eggs: effects of phylogeny and hatchling maturity. Avian Poult. Biol. Rev. 18, 71–86.
| Allometry of mass and composition in bird eggs: effects of phylogeny and hatchling maturity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Deeming, D. C. (2011). Double-yolked pheasant eggs provide an insight into the control of albumen secretion in bird eggs. Br. Poult. Sci. 52, 40–47.
| Double-yolked pheasant eggs provide an insight into the control of albumen secretion in bird eggs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXitFGmsbc%3D&md5=84e4547b5facaaa11ccdba97e7e8c9acCAS | 21337196PubMed |
Etches, R. J. (1996). ‘Reproduction in Poultry.’ (CAB International: Wallingford.)
Fasenko, G. M., Robinson, F. E., Danforth, B. L., and Zelter, I. (2000). An examination of fertility, hatchability, embryo mortality, and chick weight in double versus single-yolked broiler breeder eggs. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 80, 489–493.
| An examination of fertility, hatchability, embryo mortality, and chick weight in double versus single-yolked broiler breeder eggs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fechheimer, N. S., and Jaffe, W. P. (1966). Fertility and embryo death in double-yolked eggs. J. Reprod. Fertil. 12, 363–364.
| Fertility and embryo death in double-yolked eggs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaF2s%2FksF2ntw%3D%3D&md5=1e97586d4f99e63fff2b409bccbf10e5CAS | 5925013PubMed |
Gilbert, A. B. (1971). The ovary. In ‘Physiology and Biochemistry of the Domestic Fowl, Vol. 3’. (Eds D. J. Bell and B. M. Freeman.) pp. 1163–1208. (Academic Press: London.)
Jaap, R. G., and Muir, F. V. (1968). Erratic oviposition and egg-defects in broiler-type pullets. Poult. Sci. 47, 417–423.
| Erratic oviposition and egg-defects in broiler-type pullets.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Johnson, A. L. (2000). Reproduction in the female. In ‘Sturkie’s Avian Physiology’. 5th edn. (Ed. G. Causey Whittow.) pp. 569–596. (Academic Press: San Diego.)
Kokoszynski, D., Bernacki, Z., and Korytkowska, H. (2007). Eggshell and egg content traits in Peking duck eggs from the P44 reserve flock raised in Poland. J. Cent. Eur. Agric. 8, 9–16.
Książkiewicz, J. M. (2002). Reproductive and meat characteristics of Polish ducks threatened with extinction. Czech J. Anim. Sci. 47, 401–410.
Książkiewicz, J. M. (2003). Comparison of reproduction and carcass traits in light type of ducks of four conservative flocks over eight generations. Arch. Tierz. Dummerstorf. 4, 377–389.
Monkman, M. (1963). A study of the development of double-yolked eggs. MSc thesis, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb.
R Development Core Team (2013). R: a language and environment for statistical computing. (R Foundation for Statistical Computing: Vienna.) Available from: http://www.R-project.org [verified 3 March 2013].
Roberts, V. (1997). Standard for eggs. In ‘British Poultry Standards’. 5th edn. (Ed. V. Roberts.) pp. 359–362. (Blackwell Science: Oxford, UK.)
Romanoff, A. L., and Romanoff, A. J. (1949). ‘The Avian Egg.’ (John Wiley and Sons: New York.)
Romanoff, A. L., and Romanoff, A. J. (1972). ‘Pathogenesis of the Avian Embryo.’ (Wiley-Interscience: New York.)
Salamon, A., and Kent, J. P. (2013). Double and single yolked duck eggs: their contents and dimensions compared, and the mechanical stimulation hypothesis for albumen secretion is supported. Int. J. Poult. Sci. 12, 254–260.
| Double and single yolked duck eggs: their contents and dimensions compared, and the mechanical stimulation hypothesis for albumen secretion is supported.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sasanami, T., Matsuzaki, M., Mizushima, S., and Hiyama, G. (2013). Sperm storage in the female reproductive tract in birds. J. Reprod. Dev. 59, 334–338.
| Sperm storage in the female reproductive tract in birds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23965601PubMed |
Sauveur, B., and De Carville, H. (1990). ‘Le canard de Barbarie.’ (INRA: Paris.)
Williams, T. D. (1994). Intraspecific variation in egg size and egg composition in birds: effects on offspring fitness. Biol. Rev. Camb. Philos. Soc. 68, 35–59.
| Intraspecific variation in egg size and egg composition in birds: effects on offspring fitness.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Zelenka, D. J., Siegel, P. B., and van Krey, H. P. (1986). Ovum formation and multiple ovulation in lines of white Plymouth rocks and their crosses. Br. Poult. Sci. 27, 409–414.
| Ovum formation and multiple ovulation in lines of white Plymouth rocks and their crosses.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaL2s%2FnslCktw%3D%3D&md5=af1cfe1da3f282b84744537c6b7850efCAS | 3791017PubMed |
