Relation between proteome characterization and semen quality in Italian chicken breeds

Phenotipic traits related to the reproductive performance of the breeder flock reared at the Centro Avicolo per la Conservazione di Risorse Genetiche Locali (Centro Zootecnico Didattico Sperimentale - CZDS, Università degli Studi di Milano, Lodi) have been recorded from April 2021 to May 2022. In April 2021, one year old breeders (n=61) were reared indoor in controlled environment. Breeders were organized in 7 groups, corresponding to different blood lines; each group included one male and a variable number (3-14) of females. Egg oviposition was started on 24 weeks of age (September 2020) and was recorded daily during the first and second year of age; weekly oviposition rate is presented in Figure 1.1. Data show different cycles of oviposition, the first one 51 weeks long and more efficient, and two further cycles shorter and less efficient in the second year of age. Overall egg production is quite limited, being only 36% the oviposition peak reached in the first year of age.