Fertility of chickens from lines divergently selected for mating frequency

Fertility comparisons of males under natural and artificial mating situations were made among lines of chickens selected for high and low mating frequency and the randombred population from which the selected lines originated. Although highly significant differences existed among lines for the frequency of sexual behaviors, there were no significant differences in fertility among lines either when males were with females for extended periods of time or when hens were artificially inseminated. Significant differences were found between mating systems for days to peak and duration of fertility.