PERFORMANCE AND PHENOTYPIC CORRELATIONS OF GROWTH TRAITS OF F1 LOCAL TURKEYS IN THE HUMID TROPICS OF NIGERIA

Abstract

Numerous research reports on evaluation of growth traits, performance and phenotypic correlations between body weight and linear body traits of three strains of F1 local turkey crossbred (Meleagric gallapavo) are still limited; hence the need for this study. Therefore, performance and phenotypic correlations between body weight and linear body traits of three strains of F1 local turkey crossbred (Meleagric gallapavo) in the humid tropics were evaluated. A total of 215-day-old poults were used
for the study. The experiment was conducted using three phenotypes of indigenous domestic turkeys with the plumage colour: black, white and lavender (spotted). The poults used for the study were hatched from a foundation stock of 86 turkeys comprising 25 Hens and 5 Toms for black and white phenotypes each, respectively and 21 Hens and 5 Toms for lavender (spotted) phenotype. Randomized complete block design (RCBD) was also used to analyze the data with phenotypic class as a major factor and batch as block. The parameters measured are Body weight (BWT), Average daily feed intake (ADFI), Brooding mortality (BM), Body length (BDL), Shank length (SL), Keel length (KL), Wing length (WL), Breast width (BW), Drumstick length (DL) and Neck Length (NL). Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results showed that body weight (BW)
and Linear body measurements (body length, wing length, drumstick length, breast width, shank length, keel length and neck length) had a significant increase as age (weeks) increased for the main crossbred (black x lavender (spotted), BxS) and Lavender x Black compared with its purebred (Black x Black, (BxB), White x White (WxW) and lavender x lavender (SxS) counterparts. final body weights for main crossbred (3710.25, 3732.42 and 3738.66g) and reciprocal crossbred (3791.58, 3795.72 and 3797.44g) differed significantly (P<0.05) across the weeks. Results showed positive and significant phenotypic correlations were observed between linear body parameters and body weight of (BxW, BxS, and WxS) and reciprocal crossbreds (WxB, SxB and SxW) studie. Body weight (BW) and linear body measurements (body length, wing length, drumstick length, breast width, shank length, keel length and neck length) had significant increases as age (weeks) increased for the main crossbred
(black x lavender (spotted), BxS) and Lavender x Black compared with its purebred (Black x Black, (BxB), White x White (WxW) and lavender x lavender (SxS) counterparts. final body weights for main crossbred (3710.25, 3732.42 and 3738.66g) and reciprocal crossbred (3791.58, 3795.72 and 3797.44g) differed significantly (P<0.05) across the weeks.