Time relationships between oviposition, ovulation and egg formation in khaki campbell ducks

Abstract

1. Ten‐month‐old Khaki Campbell ducks were killed between 5 min and 15 h after oviposition. Time of oviposition and interval between eggs were recorded prior to killing.

2. Oviposition generally occurred between 04.00 and 06.00 h, 7 to 9 h after the onset of the dark period the previous day. Ninety‐seven percent of eggs were laid by 07.00 h.

3. The mean ± SD time interval between consecutive ovipositions was 24.0 ± 0.3 h, with a range from 23.5 to 24.5 h.

4. It was estimated that ovulation occurred on average 10 min after oviposition, and the ovum spent 15 to 30 min in the infundibulum, 2.5 to 3 h in the magnum, 2 to 2.5 h in the isthmus and 18.6 h in the shell gland.

Notes

Present Address: Animal Research Institute, Department of Primary Industry, Yeerongpilly, Queensland, Australia.

CSIRO Division of Tropical Animal Science, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.