Classification of turkeys as low or high volume semen producers using discriminant analysis

Medium White turkeys in Generation 10 of divergent selection for semen ejaculate volume (SEV) were classified into lines that produce either low or high volumes of semen using a multivariate statistical technique, discriminant analysis. The discriminant function was based on records of hen fertility, embryonic mortality in the early and late incubation periods, and the incidence of pipped eggs. A hit ratio, the proportion of birds correctly categorized as low or high, of .60 was obtained. The discriminant function was subsequently used to classify birds in Generation 12. A misclassification rate of .28 and .48 was obtained for birds in the low and high lines, respectively. It was concluded that the relatively low rates of misclassification indicate a potential method for identifying male and female turkeys as belonging to low or high SEV lines, based on fertility and incubation records.