Selection for the parthenogenetic trait in Chinese Painted Quail (Coturnix chinensis) affects hatchability parameters

Poultry are capable of laying unfertilized eggs in which embryonic development occurs; this phenomenon is called parthenogenesis. Through genetic selection, the incidence of parthenogenesis in virgin Chinese Painted Quail hens can be increased. However, it is unknown if selection for this trait affects hatchability of fertilized eggs. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine if genetic selection for parthenogenesis in virgin Chinese Painted Quail affects hatchability of mated hens. At 4 wk of age, females were separated from males and individually caged. Daily, eggs were collected, labeled, and stored from 0 to 3 d at 20°C then incubated at 37.5°C. At d 10 of incubation, eggs from virgin hens were broken out to determine the incidence of parthenogenesis. After the incidence of parthenogenesis in virgin hens was determined, hens were selected for mating. Eggs from the parent stock and generations 1 through 7 that did not hatch were examined for stage of hatching failure and categorized as infertile or possible parthenogens as well as early, middle, and late embryonic mortality. For hatch of set and hatch of fertile eggs, generation 1 hatched the greatest percentage of eggs compared with the other generations. Also, as the generation of selection increased, there was a linear decline in the percentage of eggs hatched for both hatch of set and hatch of fertile eggs. Additionally, generation 2 had the highest percentage of infertile eggs. There was a linear increase as generation of selection increased for both the percentage of eggs exhibiting possible parthenogens and early embryonic mortality. Unlike early embryonic mortality, the parent generation had the greatest percentage of embryos die in both the middle and late stage of incubation. In conclusion, it appears that selecting Chinese Painted Quail for the parthenogenetic trait impairs hatchability when hens are mated.