Abstract
Parthenogenetic tests, involving 345 young, virgin Beltsville Small White (B.S.W.) turkey hens and 15,131 unfertilized eggs, were conducted during 1970 and 1971. The hens involved were daughters of inbred and outbred sires and dams and represented progeny from various types of matings.Average levels of total parthenogenesis and embryos in eggs of daughters appeared to be inversely correlated with degree of inbreeding. The lowest percentage of total parthenogenesis (42.8% in 1970 and 44.4% in 1971) and embryos (9.8% in 1970 and 6.6% in 1971) were encountered in eggs laid by daughters of inbred sires and inbred dams. The highest percentages of total parthenogenesis and recognizable embryos (47.7% and 19.1% in 1970 and 49.3% and 27.2% in 1971, respectively) were found in eggs laid by daughters of inbred sires and outbred dams. Gradual reduction in numbers of embryonic lethal genes through inbreeding is suggested as one possible explanation for the marked increases encountered in relative numbers of embryos in 1970 and 1971 as compared to levels found in prior years.
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