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Vertebrate reproductive science and technology
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Yolk size and ovulation order determine fertility within double-yolked duck (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus) eggs

Attila Salamon A B C and John P. Kent B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.

B Ballyrichard House, Arklow, Co. Wicklow, Ireland.

C Corresponding author. Email: attila.salamon@ucdconnect.ie

Reproduction, Fertility and Development 28(4) 440-445 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD14059
Submitted: 16 February 2014  Accepted: 24 June 2014   Published: 11 August 2014

Abstract

Herein we examined the effects of yolk size and ovulation order on the fertilisation of yolks within double-yolked (DY) duck eggs. Single-yolked (SY) duck eggs had high fertility (89.98%), whereas in DY duck eggs fertility was low (51.9% yolks). The yolks closer to the airspace (Yolk 1) in DY eggs had higher fertility (68.82% vs 34.98% for Yolk 2; P < 0.001). When only one of the two yolks was fertilised, Yolk 1 was fertilised in 99.12% of those eggs. Yolk 1 is presumed to be the first ovulated. The higher fertility of Yolk 1 is consistent with a primacy effect where the first ovulation has a higher probability of achieving fertilisation. Small DY eggs within the normal SY egg weight range (75–104.9 g) had significantly lower yolk fertility (47.91%; n = 550) compared with large (≥105 g) DY eggs (54.56%; n = 768; P < 0.001). Yolk 1 fertility was lower in small compared with large DY eggs (64.18% vs 72.14%, respectively; P = 0.003). Although Yolk 2 fertility was low, it was not affected by egg size. DY eggs with zero fertilised yolks were significantly lighter than DY eggs with one (P = 0.007) or two (P < 0.001) fertilised yolks (i.e. larger DY eggs were more likely to have fertilised yolks). Larger eggs (≥105 g) have larger yolks and the evidence here shows that an optimal yolk size is a significant positive factor in achieving fertilization by dislodging spermatozoa, after ovulation, from their storage sites.

Additional keywords: egg weight, fertilisation.


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