Title: Ostrich (Struthio camelus) chick survival to 6 months post hatch : estimation of environmental and genetic parameters and the effect of imprinting, foster parenting and deliberate care
Abstract: Data from 10418 ostrich chicks hatched in the period from 2000 to 2008 were analyzed to determine the influence of fixed effects upon age specific survival. Age-specific survival was divided into the following intervals: 0 to 1 week survival, 0 to 3 week survival, 0 to 12 week survival, 0 to 24 week survival, 2 to 3 week survival, 4 to 12 week survival and 13 to 24 week survival. ASREML software was used to formulate a fixed effects model for each trait. Storage time only affected 0 to 3 week survival (P = 0.03), while incubator type had a significant effect on 0 to 3 week survival (P = 0.03), 0 to 12 week survival (P < 0.001), 0 to 24 week survival (P < 0.001), and 4 to 12 week survival (P < 0.001). At older ages (i.e. 0 to 24 weeks, 0 to 12 weeks, 4 to 12 weeks, and 13 to 24 weeks) females exhibited higher survival than males (P < 0.001; P = 0.010; P < 0.001; P < 0.001). Hen age was found to have a significant influence on almost all traits (i.e. 0 to 3 week survival, 0 to 12 week survival, 0 to 24 week survival, 2 to 3 week survival and 4 to 12 week survival) except for survival during the first week, and survival from 13 to 24 weeks post-hatch (P = 0.020; P = 0.002; P = 0.036; P = 0.017; P = 0.014). Exhibiting a significant environmental component, ostrich chick survival to 6 months post-hatch can be optimized by manipulating certain environmental factors like the age of the breeding female as well as the type of incubator used.
Publication Year: 2012
Publication Date: 2012-03-01
Language: en
Type: dissertation
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Cited By Count: 2
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