A sustainable growth profile is critical in order to produce good quality male breeders with high levels of fertility.  Early growth and development were extremely important for future fertility.

Best results for maintaining a growth profile of uniformity can be achieved by constantly increasing the birds body weight and feeding profile.

One of the key objectives of rearing good males is for them to ideally mate with females at 19-22 weeks. 

Skeleton size and leg length are of a significant influence to fertility, especially in the latter half of laying.

Males with smaller skeletons and short legs will have fertility problems, as a small frame would leave them unable to mate properly, due to the female's constant growth pattern. 

One solution to this problem is good uniformity which can be achieved by grading the males at 4-5 weeks of age.

A second grading can be carried out at 10 weeks if necessary but there is little point in grading after this time as effects on the skeleton size are quite minimal. 

Males should weigh up to 1100-1200g at six weeks of age in order to promote the frame size.

At 10-11 weeks, birds will become refractory as hormonal activity begins with testis growth beginning at 10 weeks until 15 weeks. 

Stocking density and feeder space play a significant part in male quality. Ideally there should be 2-2.5 sq ft per male or 5-5.5 per sq m in order to avoid limiting quality.

Bodyweight and uniformity must be correct prior to male selection. Legs and feet should be straight with no deformities and posture should be upright. Any deformed birds should be culled. Colouring up of plumage acts as an important indication of maturity. 

The critical period comes after transfer when good males can be damaged, as they find it hard to find feed.

Leaving the lights on for the first night to give the males more time to find feed and also checking pre-transfer weight will help overcome this problem. Adjusting feed levels to prevent females stealing male feed and to ensure they achieve the correct weight gain is also important. 

It's significant to ensure the male birds move forward to maturity at 22 weeks and all weaker birds should be culled at this stage reaching sexual maturity at 24 weeks. Light stimulation should take place no later than 140 days.

Ideally peak hatches should be 90%+ and peak persistency should be sustained as long as possible. A hatch at the end of laying should be 78%. 

Increasing the target weight by 100g at 24 weeks will help fertility and feed should be increased by 5g a week from 20 weeks.

Too much emphasis has been focused on weight alone but that achieving a good frame and muscle tone was significant.

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