Nine Year Summary of Parthenogenesis in Turkeys. ∗

Summary

A breeding program for increasing parthenogenetic development, based on the progeny test method, was initiated in 1954. More than 42,000 eggs from 926 Belts-ville Small White virgin turkey hens were involved in this 9-year study. A marked increase in incidence of parthenogenesis, particularly of the more highly organized type, has resulted. Parthenogenetic development was observed in 16.7% of the eggs tested in 1952, in 41.7% in 1959. In 1952, embryos were encountered in 0.2% of all eggs whereas in 1959 11.7% of the eggs were so classified. Of 44 embryos found in 1954, 4 or 9% survived until 21-28 days of incubation; in 1960, 87 of 277 or 31.4% did so. Since 1956 a total of 67 embryos, all males, have survived to hatching, a few reaching maturity. Three males produced spermatozoa and one sired offspring.