Impact of different mating sex ratios on reproductive efficiency of silver pheasant Lophura nycthemera (Galliformes, Phasianidae)

The present study was conducted to evaluate the impact of different mating ratios (male-female) on egg production, egg fertilization %, egg hatching % and courtship behavior in Silver Pheasant Lophura nycthemera at three stations for a period of 16 weeks. The birds were kept in four groups with following malefemale ratios: Group-A (1:2), Group-B (1:3), Group-C (1:4) and Group-D (1:5). The results showed that Group-B (1:3) ratio has significant effect on mean number of eggs (1.75 ± 0.15), Group-C (1:4) on weight of eggs (93.22 ± 5.02), Group-C (1:4) and Group-D (1:5) on egg fertilization and hatching % while Group-B (1:3), Group-C (1:4) and Group-D (1:5) on time spent in mating. The feed consumed and feed conversion ratio was significant in Group-D (1:5).