Fertilizers Poultry Research Articles

The Impact of Soil and Water Pollutants Released from Poultry Farming on the Growth and Development of Two Plant Species

Intensive poultry production may result in substantial emissions of pollutants into the environment, including pharmaceuticals and other chemicals used in poultry farming. The objective of this study was to verify the presence of ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, carbamazepine, metoclopramide, trimethoprim, diflufenican, flufenacet, and p,p′-DDE in soil and water in the immediate vicinity of a poultry manure heap. The influence of soil contaminants on the growth and selected physiological parameters of seed peas and common duckweed (as indicator plants) was tested. It has been proven that the cultivation of pea plants on soil coming from the close proximity of a heap of manure results in a deterioration of both morphological parameters (root length, shoot length) and physiological parameters (chlorophyll absorption, aminolevulinic acid dehydrogenase (ALAD) activity, aminolevulinic acid (ALA) content, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial damage or production of HSP70 proteins). Similarly, water extracts from cultivated soils had a significant effect on duckweed, and it was found that contaminant leachates are indeed detectable in soil, groundwater, and deep water. Special attention should, therefore, be paid to the location, methods of storage, and use of poultry fertilizer.

Influence of different doses of organic fertilizer from poultry fertilizer pellets on melon and cucumber crops

Influence of different doses of organic fertilizer from poultry fertilizer pellets on melon and cucumber crops

Influence of Poultry Manure Application Rates on Red and Yellow Varieties of Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) in the Marginal Mineral Soil of Bukit Kor (Marang)

Increased crop yields and higher soil quality can be achieved by using the appropriate amount of fertiliser at the right time. A study on optimal poultry fertiliser rates for watermelon development on nutrient deficient soil, contributes to the current knowledge base. Thus, this paper intends to ascertain the effect of different application rates of poultry fertilizer on growth and yield properties of two cultivars of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) on soil with marginal nutrients. Accordingly, an experiment was conducted at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu's research farm at Bukit Kor (Marang) to compare the effects of various application rates (T1: 0T/Ha, T2: 10T/Ha, T3: 20T/Ha, T4: 30T/Ha) of poultry manure on the performance of two watermelon varieties (V1:yellow variety (golden delight) and V2:red variety (new dragon)). Several growth and yield parameters were determined, of which the treatments on the red variety at 20THa^-1 and 30THa^-1 produced the significant higher results for vine length (189.38 & 189.43cm), number of leaves (61 & 63), number of lateral branches (2.5 & 2.33), leaf area index (0.12 & 0.13), chlorophyll content SPAD (36.32 & 37.03), fruit weight (10.23 & 9.84THa^-1) and number of flowers (8.33 & 11.7). The present research, therefore, contributes to a growing body of evidence suggesting that the red variety of watermelon treated with 20THa^-1 or 30THa^-1 presented the best results.

Vegetative growth and yield of two watermelon varieties (Citrullus lanatus) as influenced by different organic fertilizers

The demand for watermelon for consumption in a fresh form as a source of minerals and vitamins is on the increase. Consequently, any agronomic approach to promoting the productivity and quality of watermelon is a technique that needs to be studied. Thus, an experiment was conducted at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu’s research farm to compare the impact of various types of organic fertilizer’s (cow manure, sheep manure, poultry manure, goat manure, fish waste, vermicompost, and dolomite) on the growth and yield of two watermelon varieties. A total of sixty-four (64) experimental pots were arranged in a CRD layout and in factorial design of which eight organic fertilizers were used as main factors, and two varieties (V) of watermelon as sub-factors, which was replicated four times. Results of this study showed that the New Dragon variety treated with poultry fertilizer produced significantly higher results in vine length at 4 WAP (79.84 cm), the number of leaves (26.0), LAI (0.77), chlorophyll content at 6 and 8 WAP (60.1 and 66.6 SPAD respectively), days to 50% flowering (20.0 days) and weight of fruits (15.2 t/Ha). Moreso, the seaweed-extract treated New Dragon watermelon variety produced a significantly higher number of female flowers (3.75). Summarily, the New Dragon variety (red-fleshed) recorded higher results for both growth and yield characteristics than the Golden Delight (yellow-fleshed) variety of watermelon. Correlation analysis between morphological and yield parameters showed that yield parameters positively correlated with growth and development. It is recommended that the New Dragon variety of watermelon treated with poultry manure gives the best results

Nitrogen release from pelletized poultry fertilizer in two soils: influence of soil moisture and microbial biomass

Nitrogen release from organic amendments, e.g., from organic agriculture, is a key process to raise soil fertility to sustain crop production in low environmental impact agroecosystems. This study aimed to investigate nitrogen release from a pelletized organic amendment containing poultry litter, guano and pot ale applied to soil from a field under two different management systems: an alfalfa-based crop rotation, enriched with N by the legume, under low-intensity tillage and a cereal-sunflower crop rotation under high-intensity tillage. Both sample [...]

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Enhancing soil fertility and reducing the devastative effect of weed competition in rice is increasingly important and critical for ensuring a sustainable increase in rice production and secure food supply. Field experiment was conducted at Bontanga in the Northern Region of Ghana to investigate the effect of soil amendments and weeding regimes on growth and yield of rice under different moisture sources. The experiment was a three-factor experiment laid in a split plot design with three replications. The factors were water source (irrigation and rainfed), four levels of soil amendments [no fertilizer (NF), poultry fertilizer (PF), mineral fertilizer (MF), cow dung (CD)] at the same N rate (60kg N ha-1) and four levels of weeding regime (weedy check (W1), weed free (W2), one hand weeding + twice herbicides application (W3) and twice hand weeding + one time herbicides spray (W4). Parameters measured were tiller count, weed biomass, weed control efficiency, grain yield and cost analysis. Results showed that water source, soil amendments and weeding regimes had influenced rice yield. Irrigation increased rice grain yield by 49% compared to rainfed. Application of CD, MF and PL at the same N quantity increased grain yield by 5.4, 28 and 8%, respectively compared to NF. Among weeding regime, weed free reduced weed density and biomass, this translated to greater tiller counts and increased grain yield. Weed interference in weedy check reduced grain yield by 48, 30 and 26% compared to W2, W3 and W4, respectively. Irrigation increased cost of production by 7%, however, cost:benefit ratio increased by 44% compared to rain fed conditions. Key words: Soil amendments, weed control, irrigation, rain fed, yield, rice.

Effects of some animal manure and rate of application on growth, herbage and seed yields of Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana var. Callide)

An experiment was conducted twice concurrently at Vom in Plateau State Nigeria in 2011 to evaluate the effects of three animal based organic fertilizers and three rates of application on the growth, seed and herbage yields of Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana var. Callide). This study involved three types (poultry, rabbit and sheep dung) of animal fertilizer and three rates (0, 25 and 50 t ha-1) of application in a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement fitted into randomized complete block design and replicated three times. Animal fertilizers significantly (p < 0.05) increased growth, seed, fresh herbage and dry matter yields of Rhodes grass. Generally, fertilizers from poultry and rabbit were similar and better (p < 0.05) than that of sheep in the enhancement of the measured variables. At 6 weeks after fertilizer application (WAF), fresh herbage yield was in the range of 14.6 – 48.3 t ha-1 whereas dry matter yield ranged from 4.7 – 13.9 t ha-1 while seed yield was 1.8 – 2.3 t ha-1. At 12 WAF, rabbit fertilizer produced significantly higher values than sheep fertilizer by 21.2 % for sward height, 70.1 % for fresh herbage yield and 61.4 % for dry matter yield. The correlation coefficients among the measured variables were positive and highly significant. The highest correlation recorded (0.937**) was between fresh herbage and dry matter yields. The study indicated that application of either rabbit or poultry fertilizer can suitably enhance Rhodes grass growth for higher herbage and seed yields. The study also showed that 25 and 50 t ha-1 of animal fertilizers on Rhodes grass yielded similar results. With adequate fertilizer application, Rhodes grass can produce sufficient herbage to meet the nutritional requirement of several ruminant livestock. It is not economical to apply more than 25 t ha-1 of animal fertilizers to Rhodes grass if they contain more than 1.21 % of nitrogen.

Effects of semen dosage, oviductal sperm storage and insemination interval on egg fertility, embryo mortality and hatchability in Nera Black breeder chickens

The biological basis of sustaining fertility in poultry is their ability to store sperm cells in the sperm storage tubules (SST) located in the uterovaginal junction. However, artificial insemination in poultry industry is haphazardly administered in Nigeria without regulation on semen dose and frequency of insemination for optimum fertility. The objective of this study was to establish a semen dosage and insemination interval for maximum fertility and embryonic survival in Nera black layer breeder chickens. A total of 80 breeder hens (52 weeks) were allotted to five (5) treatments with four (4) replicate per treatment. Semen was pooled from 10 matured breeder cocks and inseminated to four groups of hens at varied semen dose of 0.02mL (T1), 0.04mL (T2), 0.06mL (T3) and 0.08mL (T4) of undiluted semen while hens in T5 were mated naturally, both for two consecutive days. 0.02, 0.04, 0.06 and 0.08mL of pooled semen contained 20.43×10 , 40.87×106 , 61.30×106 and 81.74×106 motile spermatozoa. Eggs were collected, stored and artificially incubated weekly for 4 weeks. Fertility, embryo mortality and hatchability parameters were determined. Another 78 breeder hens were allocated into 4 treatments of 5 replicates per treatment with unequal number of hens and were inseminated with 0.02mL of raw semen containing 20.43 × 106 motile sperm cells at 3, 6, 9 and 12 days intervals. Fertility, hatchability and embryo mortality were determined. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at &0.05 Hatch of fertile eggs in T5 at week 2 (65.36±13.28) was significantly higher (p<0.05) . than T1 (33.83±12.65), T2 (13.25±6.88), T3 (39.17±14.17) and T4 (28.21±11.37). At weeks 1 and 2, there was no significant different across the treatments. Fertility at 4 weeks in T1 (11.53±6.66) was significantly (p<0.05) different from treatments T2 (0.00±0.00), T3 (0.00±0.00), T4 (1.66±1.66) and T5 (0.00±0.00). Total and early embryo mortality in week 3 was significantly higher (p<0.05) in T1 (100.00±0.00, 95.00±5.00) than in treatments T2 (43.75±0.00, 43.75±25.77), T3 (66.67±23.57, 66.67±23.57), T4 (95.00±5.00, 85.00±15.00) and T5 (37.50±23.94, 22.92±15.73). Fertility was significantly (p<0.05) higher in 3 days insemination interval (52.65±7.25) compared with 6 days (39.87±4.70), 9 days (22.98±5.71) and 12 days (36.14±6.89). At weeks 1 and 3, the hatch of fertile eggs across the treatments was not significantly (p>0.05) different from one another. This study suggests that 6 inseminating semen dose of 0.02mL containing approximately 20.43×10 motile sperm cells in Nera black layer breeder chickens will give a maximum fertile period of 5 days, while insemination interval of 3 days using 0.02mLof semen gave highest fertility level.

Sweet Corn Phosphorus Uptake from Sandy Soil Amended with Anaerobically-digested Manure

ABSTRACT Anaerobic digester development on dairy, poultry, and swine confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) reduce manure storage, produce energy and are poised to supply a variety of nutrient-rich materials. Field experiments were conducted in the Columbia Basin of South-Central Washington to evaluate the yield response and phosphorous (P) use efficiency of sweet corn (Zea mayes convar. saccharata cv. Sheba) to the application of P from anaerobic-digested manures. Treatments consisted of the application of 0, 10, 20, 40 kg P ha−1 from five sources, three from anaerobic digesters (AD); AD-dairy P fine solids; AD centrifuged poultry solids; and AD dairy-derived struvite-P compared to a commercial poultry fertilizer, commercial mono-ammonium phosphate, and a non-amended control. Sweet corn yields were not significantly different among P amendments or rates of application but were different between years and were greater than the No-P treatment in 2014. Phosphorus recovery efficiency defined as that percentage of applied P recovered by sweet corn averaged 138% among treatments receiving 10 kg P ha−1 and declined to 57% for higher rates of poultry materials and the commercial mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP) in 2013 and declined 50% in 2014 due to lower yields. Although yield was not different the uptake of P among treatments was significantly greater than the unfertilized control. The lack of yield differences among rates of P applied indicates that P was not limiting yield and suggests that under these production conditions the application of 10 kg P ha−1 of any of the amendments was sufficient. Abbreviations: AD: anaerobic digestion; ADD: anaerobic-digested dairy manure; ADP: anaerobic digested poultry manure; ADS: anaerobic-digested struvite; DM – dry matter; MAP – mono ammonium phosphate; PBP a commercial poultry fertilizer; PRD: percent P recovery efficiency difference method; PRB: percent P recovery balance method; PUE: Phosphorus use efficiency; AUE – Agronomic utilization efficiency.

EFFECT OF MYCORRHIZA INOCULATION AND BIOZYME SPRAY ON THE CONTENT OF LEAVES AND FRUITS OF NUTRIENTS ELEMENTS OF SUMMER SQUASH

A experiment of field with conducted for the spring season 2018 on summer squash in the fields of the Department of Horticulture and Garden Engineering, College of Agriculture, Al-Anbar University to find out the effect of adding bio fertilizer and spraying with Biozyme as bio fertilizers were added at four levels1-Without adding (comparison) 2- Complete chemical fertilizer recommendation + 50 g poultry fertilizer 3- Half fertilizer recommendation + 50 g poultry fertilizer + 50g bio fertilizer 4- 50 g poultry fertilizer + 50 g bio fertilizer and Number of times sprayed with the Biozyme it was included 4 levels 1- without spray 2- One time spray 3- Tow times spray 4- Three times spray of. The results showed that all treatments recorded a significant difference compared with control treatments (half fertilizer recommendation + 50 g poultry fertilizer + 50 g bio fertilizer) in all studied traits including leaf content of nitrogen 1.02%, phosphorus 0.47%, potassium 1.79%, iron 225.6 mg kg-1 and zinc 69.50 mg kg-1 , fruit content of Nitrogen 0.98%, phosphorus 0.70% and potassium 0.68% compared to the comparison treatment. Three times the application of spray Biozyme gave a significant superiority in leaf content of nitrogen 0.98%, phosphorus 0.42%, potassium 1.73%, iron 217.1 mg kg-1 , zinc 64.42 mg kg-1 , and fruit content of nitrogen Phosphorus 0.67%, potassium 0.66% by comparison. As for the interaction between the bio fertilizer and the number of times sprayed with the Biozyme, the treatment (half fertilizer recommendation + 50g poultry manure + 50g wax bio fertilizer three times sprayed with biozyme) gave a significant superiority in all the characteristics of the study, which included leaves content of nitrogen 1.09%. , Phosphorus 0.56%, potassium 1.83%, iron 243.0 mg kg-1 , zinc 78.67 mg kg-1 , fruit content of nitrogen 1.49%, phosphorus 0.77% and potassium 0.73% by compared to control treatment.

Effect of Organic compost on Chemical Parameters for Two Varieties of Tomato Plant (Solanum esculentium L.)

The experiment conducted during 2018-2019 to study effect of added 15 and 30 t.h-1 level of three kinds of decomposing organic fertilizers on some chemical properties for two varieties of tomato (Red flower F1 and Waad RZ) in field of agricultural experiments station college of Agriculture, University of Basrah. Results showed a significantly effect of hybrid (Red flower F1) compared with hybrid (Waad RZ) on leaves content of : Total chlorophyll, total N and total soluble carbohydrate, increased 10.6, 14.39 and 8.84% respectively. Results showed a significant effect of organic fertilizer especially 15 t.ha-1 poultry fertilizer on total chlorophyll and total N in leaves content with increase of 67.75 and 110.31% respectively, 30 t.ha-1 poultry fertilizer significantly increased of total P in leaves content increased 143.48%. Decomposing cattle fertilizer with 30 t.ha-1 significantly increased of total K in leaves content with increased 181.30% also corn residues fertilizer with 30 t.ha-1 significantly increased of total soluble carbohydrate with 109.89%. Interaction between experiment factors were significantly effect on total chlorophyll, K and soluble carbohydrate in leaves content. Study also revealed different influences of organic fertilizer as follow: The poultry fertilizer (15 t.ha-1) increased the total leaves content of chlorophyll and N with 67.75 and 110.31% respectively. While the poultry fertilizer (30 t.ha-1) significantly increased the total leaves content of P with 143.48%. The decomposed cattle fertilizer (30 t.ha-1) significantly increased the total leaves content of K with 181.30%. Whereas corn residues (30 t.ha-1) significantly raised the total leaves content of soluble carbohydrate with 109.89%.

Study efficiency of poultry litter and kinetin in reduced effects of saline water in Vicia faba

Soil salinity reduces water availability of plant roots via negative (low) osmosis potential, as well as decrease of germination dynamics of plant seeds by ionic toxicity of Na and Cl, differences in fruit-set, yield, photosynthetic rates, stomata conductance, total chlorophyll content, proline, The study was conducted to alleviate salt stress in some growth parameters and nutrients uptake with some enzyme activities in broad been plants, Kinetin was used at (40 mg/liter), poultry litter with 5 ton / hectare and the quality of irrigation water in three levels (1.3, 4.1and 8.3) dS.m-1, results show that the water salinity increased the electrical conductivity of the soil also POX, catalase activity, Na and proline was elevated with increment salinity levels, while the plant height, dry weight of shoot, yield, NPK contents in leaves and K/Na ratio were decreased with elevation of salt stress. The poultry and Kinetin applications alleviated negative effects of saline water but the poultry litter caused significant reductive of the deleterious negative effects of saline water., the conclusion of this results that poultry fertilizer gave positive results in improving the growth, yield and NPK contents with significant reducing effects in the Na contents, proline contents, POX and CAT activity in leaves, while the treatment with kinetin did not give significant differences, especially with growth, yield and plant content of NPK contents in leaves.

Phosphorus Uptake by Potato from Fertilizers Recovered from Anaerobic Digestion

The rising costs of fertilizers have encouraged the development of technologies to recover nutrients from dairy, cattle, swine, and poultry operations. Field experiments were conducted in the Columbia Basin of Washington to assess the yield of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) to application of P‐enriched materials recovered from anaerobic digestion of manure. Four rates of P from five sources, three recovered from anaerobic digesters (AD), AD‐dairy P‐enriched fine solids (ADD), AD centrifuged poultry solids (ADP), and AD dairy struvite‐P (ADS) compared to a commercial poultry fertilizer (PBP) were compared to mono‐ammonium phosphate (MAP) and non‐amended control (No‐P). Fertilized treatments had higher yields than the No‐P treatment. Phosphorus source and application rate had significant effects on petiole P concentrations. Increases in petiole P concentrations averaged 300 to 500 mg kg−1 tissue with each rate increase for MAP and ADS. Tuber yields among P fertilizers and rates of P application were not significant but were different between years, averaging 2 and 10 Mg ha−1 fresh weight higher than the No‐P treatment. Tuber size distribution showed a significant shift from smaller tubers <170 g to the 285+ g tuber classes. The P recovery efficiency averaged 42% among treatments receiving 56 kg P2O5 ha−1 and declined to 22% for higher rates of ADS, ADD, and MAP. Recoveries were lowest for poultry derived materials, ranging 20 to 30%. The P fertilizer sources evaluated performed similarly when equal rates of P were applied and method of application was comparable. Phosphorus recovered from anaerobic digesters can effectively substitute for commercial mined P fertilizers. Potato yields among recovered P fertilizers and rates of P application were not significantly different. Recovered P fertilizer performed similarly when equal rates were applied and method of application was comparable.

Impact of Heat Stress on Meat, Egg Quality, Immunity and Fertility in Poultry and Nutritional Factors That Overcome These Effects: A Review

Impact of Heat Stress on Meat, Egg Quality, Immunity and Fertility in Poultry and Nutritional Factors That Overcome These Effects: A Review

Practical Aspects of Fertility in Poultry

Birds, reptiles and insects (e.g. Hymenoptera) share fundamental similarities in their reproductive strategies due to the presence, in the female tract, of specialized sites in which spermatozoa ma...

Mixed Model Studies on Inheritance of Reproductive Traits in Laying Hens – A Bayesian Approach

Segregation analyses performed for many livestock species indicate a mixed inheritance model of reproductive traits. Additionally, depending on the population, a given trait can be determined by a number of genes with large effects. Genetic backgrounds of hatch-ability and fertility in poultry are still not known sufficiently. The objectives of this study are to verify the hypothesis on segregation of single genes (1 vs. 2) affecting fertility and hatchability and to estimate a heritability of these traits. Records from 2,040 and 2,015 dams from full-pedigreed strains of Rhode Island Red (R33) and New Hampshire (N88) from a pedigree farm were analyzed. The percentage of fertilized eggs and the percentage of the eggs hatched of fertilized eggs were registered for dams only. Fertility was checked by candling on the eighth day of incubation. To obtain a binomial phenotypic scale, 10 eggs per dam were included into the analysis. Animal single-trait threshold models were used for the analysis of data. The first model included the effects of 2 single genes, 2 fixed effects of year and season, additive polygenic effects, and permanent environmental effects. In the second model, only 1 single gene effect was included. Additionally, the analysis based on the polygenic threshold model was also performed. The Gibbs sampling procedure was used. The significance of single gene effects was verified by highest posterior density regions. The obtained results clearly gave evidence for the segregation of 1 major gene for hatchability in strain R33. Furthermore, the mixed inheritance model can also be suggested for fertility in this strain. After the analysis, the polygenic heritabilities were very low (<0.11), whereas major polygenic heritability ranged from 0.05 to 0.12.

Anaerobic Digesters: From Waste to Energy Crops as an Alternative Energy Source

The main objective of the present study is to investigate the integrated organic waste-anaerobic digester-energy crop production system as a eco-agricultural system and to use anaerobically digested cattle slurry as fertilizer for safflower production. The value of slurry as fertilizer for growing safflower was compared with commercial organic and chemical fertilizers. According to the results of this study, higher yields were obtained from the application of anaerobically digested cattle slurry as fertilizer than the applications of commercial organic and chemical fertilizers such as aerobically digested cattle fertilizer, composted poultry fertilizer and compose fertilizer. Recycling of organic wastes by this system can decrease input of chemical fertilizer and use of fossil fuels. Also, it can improve soil texture. In conclusion, this system that combined organic waste, biogas production and energy crop production as an eco-agricultural system will play an important role in improving residential sanitation and economical development in rural areas.

Practical aspects of fertility in poultry

Birds, reptiles and insects (e.g. Hymenoptera) share fundamental similarities in their reproductive strategies due to the presence, in the female tract, of specialized sites in which spermatozoa may reside for prolonged periods upon a single mating. In avian species, two distinct storage sites are present, one located in the utero-vaginal junction and the other in the lower portion of the infundibulum. At both sites, spermatozoa are stored in sperm storage tubules (SSTs) which are discrete, generally non-branched invaginations of the luminal epithelium (see review by Bakst et al., 1994). The SSTs located in the uterovaginal junction are considered as the main site of residence of spermatozoa upon their deposition in the lower portion of the vagina. The fertilizing potential of females along the reproductive season is at first dependent on their ability to store and maintain adequate populations of spermatozoa in their SST in order to repeatedly provide the site of fertilization with sufficient numbers of “fit” spermatozoa after each ovulation. As a consequence in poultry species, eggs from females with prolonged sperm storage potential have also a natural tendency to maintain optimal fertility rates for prolonged periods. This situation may be highly desirable to sustain high fertility in the case of partial failure of the males during the season.This review is an attempt to address the main intrinsic and extrinsic factors capable of favouring or altering fertility in poultry species. Unfortunately, most of the information available is obtained from two species, namely the domestic fowl and turkey, which, in certain circumstances, may not reveal enough to pinpoint the controlling factors of fertility in other poultry species.

Evaluation of fertility: biological basis and practical application

Fertility in poultry is generally measured as the “percentage fertile eggs” laid by hens during a period of time following artificial insemination or natural mating. This parameter has presented some problems for the statistical analysis of fertility and its main limitations derive from the binary classification of an egg as fertile or infertile. An alternative measurement of breeding efficiency is the number of spermatozoa that associate with eggs at fertilisation. These can be estimated in laid eggs and present a robust and fundamental measurement of the efficiency of sperm transfer into hens. In several applications they have revealed differences in the efficiency of mating or artificial insemination that were not discernible by traditional estimations of fertility.

Measuring sperm:egg interaction to assess breeding efficiency in chickens and turkeys

Systems used to measure fertility in poultry have themselves presented a major impediment to progress in maintaining or improving fertility. Generally, these systems have been time-consuming, quantitatively inadequate, or both. A simplistic illustration of the basis of the problem is that if six fertile eggs were laid by a turkey hen during 1 wk after insemination, then all we know is what happened to six sperm: they fertilized the eggs. If 100 million sperm were inseminated, then information on the other 999,999,994 is missing. A better approach for quantitating breeding efficiency is to estimate the numbers of sperm that interact with the egg in the infundibulum. These can be identified in laid eggs, as sperm in the outer perivitelline layer (OPVL sperm), or holes produced by sperm in the inner perivitelline layer (IPVL holes). Eggs can contain up to 250,000 OPVL sperm, so the scale improves on binary estimation of fertilization status. The number of spermatozoa interacting with the perivitelline layer is related to the artificial insemination (AI) dose, the number of oviducal sperm, and the probability of fertilization, not just for one egg, but for subsequent eggs laid by the same hen. Practical applications of sperm:egg interaction measurements include: replacement of fertility trials for evaluation of semen; general fertility evaluation; and monitoring breeding efficiency of commercial turkey and broiler breeders. Furthermore, studies of sperm transfer into eggs raise interesting questions about the efficiency of turkey hens' response to AI or mating frequency of broiler hens in commercial flocks.