The effects of environmental temperature on fertility of the domestic fowl.

Three experiments were conducted to determine the influence of environmental temperature upon the fertility of domestic fowl. It was found that a cold environmental temperature depressed testes growth and delayed spermatogenesis in maturing cockerels. There was also a highly significant difference in the fertility of mature males kept at different environmental temperatures. Males kept at 19 degrees C. had higher fertility than males kept in either 30 degrees or 8 degrees C. The effects of environmental temperature on female fertility was also studied. Fertility was significantly lower in the hens kept at 30 degrees C. than that of similar groups held at an environment of 8 degrees C.