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Biology of Breeding Poultry, edited by P.M. Hocking

In time-honoured tradition, this is the 29th volume of proceedings of the WPSA,UK, Poultry Science Symposium held in Edinburgh in 2007. The organisers of the symposium posed a very general topic and this is reflected in the eclectic series of Chapters that comprise the text. In today’s era of specialisation, the book misses the mark in providing current in-depth information on any one topic, although the reader is presented with an excellent overview of factors likely to impinge on breeder and neonate performance. The book will, therefore, be of most interest to technical groups involved in commercial poultry breeding. The editor, Paul Hocking, is to be congratulated on consistency of format, especially the figures and diagrams across the 22 chapters, although the font size is at the lower limit for ease of reading. The first 5 chapters describe past, current and future prospects for pure-line breeding and genetics, describing the on-going challenge of corporate geneticists to balance breeder performance with that of meat production. A general theme in these early chapters is that perhaps more can be gained from reducing variance in most reproductive parameters as opposed to the usual goal of ‘‘increasing’’ productivity. Chapters 6—10 cover various aspects of endocrine control of avian reproduction and mating, fertility and semen evaluation. Regarding hormonal control, the authors conclude that the most recent information has accrued from cloning of genes expressed in the hypothalamusgonadal axis, although the scant references evident on this topic, within the excellent reference list for this chapter, undoubtedly reflect a need for more research on this important topic. Descriptions of challenges in mating behaviour give the reader background information on the ever ‘‘revolving’’ decision of male spiking. Two excellent chapters on sperm and semen activity and quality provide insight into reasons for practical limitations of fertility and the potential for semen preservation in chickens. Incubation, egg quality and egg handling are well covered in chapters 8—10. As pointed out by Nick French, advancements in incubation technology are most likely to accrue directly from industry, rather than from independent basic research, and this grouping of information is a useful resource for ongoing fine-tuning of the commercial transition from hatching egg to chick or poult. Three chapters included within the section entitled ‘‘Managing the Environment’’ give important information only on lighting and lack any information on critical aspects of modern housing and ventilation. Considering that at least 70% of the world’s breeders are now managed in near-topical conditions, this section lacks any detail on critical day-to-day management of the environment and especially situations of heat distress. The final 6 chapters cover nutrition and health of breeders. Feed restriction is obviously an important topic in broiler breeders although a chapter on this topic perhaps dwells too much on the well-reported consequences of ad-libitum feeding. A chapter on response of breeders to protein and amino acids is a very useful resource and reinforces the concept of general oversupply of these nutrients under commercial conditions. The chapters on health management are necessarily generic for a world audience, yet provide some background information of use to those establishing specific health management programs in specific geographical locations. Overall, this book provides the reader with a useful update of current information relative to that published on the same topic, by the same organisation, in 1994 (Vol. 17). In the interim, many components of this edition have been covered in greater detail in more focused Poultry Science Symposia, yet it is always a useful resource when all this information is collated around a general theme of reproductive efficiency. While expensive at $180USD, it is recommended reading and resource material for all those involved in the varied components that comprise the modern poultry breeding industry.