Effect of Simulated Airplane Sounds on the Reproductive Functions of the Male Domestic Chicken

¹ From the Department of Poultry Science, State College of Washington, Pullman, Washington

Sperm concentration and differential counts were made on 12 mature and healthy New Hampshire male chickens. Subsequently, six of the males (experimental group) were subjected to an intermittent sound field of simulated airplane fly-overs about 120 decibels in intensity. The other six males constituted control group. Quantitative and differential counts on sperm produced both by experimental and control males continued to be made at periodic intervals for 4 weeks after the initiation of sound treatment. No significant effect on quantitative and differential sperm counts could be attributed to the sound treatment. Concurrently with these observations, two groups of White Leghorn pullets were inseminated once, each with the semen of one of the male treatment groups. Forty-seven days later, the same pullets were re-inseminated, reversing, however, the semen group assignment of the females. Observations were made on the hatchability of eggs. In the first setting of eggs (following the first insemination) there was a highly significant (P <0.01) depression in the hatchability of eggs with embryos sired by the males exposed to sound. In the other hatch (result of the second insemination), the extent of depression was, statistically, not significant.