SOME BIOMETRIC AND ALLOMETRIC GROWTH TRAITS OF NIGERIAN LOCAL TURKEY PROGENIES

Abstract

An eight-week study was conducted to estimate the genetic parameters of body weights and linear body measurements of the Nigerian local turkey progenies at different ages from 0 to 8 weeks of age. A total of 21 mature Nigerian local turkeys comprising seven males and fourteen females were used to generate 65 poults during the study. Bi-weekly linear body measurements in centimetres were taken using a measuring tape, while body weights measured in grams were taken from the poults every two weeks for 8 weeks using a digital scale. Body conformation traits measured included body weight, body length, breast girth, shank length, thigh length and keel length. Results showed that sire has significant (p<0.05) effects on the body weight of progenies
at 2, 4 and 8 weeks of age and body length of the turkey progenies a 0, 4 and 8 weeks. There were significant (p<0.05) differences in the breast girth at weeks 0 and 4, and keel length of the turkey progenies at week 0. Also, significant differences were observed in the keel length measurements of the turkey progenies at 2 and 6 weeks of age. No significant (p > 0.05) differences were observed in the shank length and thigh length. It was concluded that body weight, body length and breast girth at 8 weeks could be used as traits for the selection of parents of the next generation, while thigh length and keel length at 4 weeks were the best predictors of genetic improvement through selection.