VIRGIN BIRTH IN FOUR STRAINS OF TURKEYS REARED IN NIGERIAN

Abstract

The study undertook to study the occurrence of parthenogenesis in four (4) strains of turkeys reared in Nigeria. The four strains comprised 1 exotic strain (White Nicholas) and 3 local strains (White, black and silver plumage colours). A total of forty (40) pre-pubertal hens consisting of 10 White Nicholas hens, 10 White Local hens, 10 Silver Local hens and 10 Black Local hens were used for the study. The study commenced with egg laying in those hens. Eggs from uninseminated virgin hens were collected and checked for the occurrence of parthenogenesis. Twenty-five eggs from each treatment were incubated. Embryonic mortalities at candling were determined by the presence of blood ring following egg breakout
or as detected at candling. The positive developing eggs were allowed to hatch. The results of the study showed that only the White and Black Local hens showed signs of parthenogenesis with only the White Local strain having 12% fertility and hatchability values and the Black Local strain having 4% fertility and 0% hatchability values. It was concluded that strain differences with respect to parthenogenesis exist and that selection for parthenogenesis should be carried out in White and Black Local strains to help minimize losses arising due to embryonic mortalities in those strains. Therefore, an intending turkey farmer should wait for parthenogenesis to phase out in these two strains before natural mating or artificial insemination should set in to minimize the rates of embryonic mortalities in their fertile eggs.