Effect of time of day of insemination and the position of the egg in the oviduct on the fertility of turkeys.

Turkeys were inseminated at six different times of the day (1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m., and 12:00 a.m.) to determine the effect of time of day of insemination and the stage of egg formation on fertility. Significantly (P less than .01) lower fertility resulted from insemination at 1:00 p.m. than from inseminations thereafter. Significantly higher fertility resulted from 9:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m. insemination than from preceding times. Highest fertility resulted when inseminations were performed 8 to 18 hours prior to oviposition whereas lowest fertility resulted from hens inseminated both in the last seven hours of shell deposition and during the approximate time of ovulation.