TURKEY FARMING

Deepika Jamadar¹, Meenaxi²

1 Assistant professor, Veterinary College, Bidar.

2 Livestock Production and Management, Veterinary College, Bidar

 

In India, the turkey bird is known as Turkin. The domestication of turkeys likely commenced with the indigenous peoples of pre-Columbian Mexico. Turkeys constitute a significant portion of the poultry population, ranking closely behind chickens and ducks. Primarily raised for their meat, turkeys offer the leanest poultry meat. They make up approximately 2% of the total poultry population. Kerala and Tamil Nadu are the primary states for turkey farming, with birds also present in Manipur, Nagaland, and Tripura. The practice of turkey farming is rapidly gaining popularity in southern regions. Turkeys boast a dressing percentage of 72% and produce eggs weighing around 80 grams. Elite stocks of turkeys are maintained at Tanuvas in Chennai, Cari in Bareilly, and the Central Poultry Development Organization.

Keywords: turkey Varieties,Economic traits, Rearing system, Incubation.

Parameters	Values
Sex ratio	1:3 to 1:4
Average egg weight	70 g
Average weight of day old poult	50 g
Age at sexual maturity	24 to 28 weeks
Average egg production per bird per year	80 to 100 nos
Average poult obtained per female per year	50 to 60
Incubation period	28 days
Highest egg production period	28 to 52 weeks
Market age	16 wks
Market weight	Male 3.5 kg, Female 2.5 kg
FCR (16 weeks)	3.5
Mortality during first eight weeks	3 to 4 %

 

Characters	Tom	Hen
Caruncles	Red fleshy protuberance on head	Absent
Snood	Fleshy protuberance near the base of the beak	Small, thin, non-elastic
Beard	Present	Absent
Strut	Present	Absent

 

TURKEY VARIETIES

Board breasted bronze

• Plumagecolor-black
• Females have blackbreastfeatherswithwhitetip

Board breasted white

• Board-breasted bronze X White Holland
• Plumage color- white
• Better heat tolerance

Beltsville small white

• Resembles the Board breasted white in color and shape but smaller in size
• Egg production, fertility and hatchability tend to be higher
• Broodiness tends to be lower than heavy varieties

ECONOMICT RAITS

ADVANTAGES

• Beingproducedaroundtheyear
• Noreligioustaboo
• Moredisease-resistantthanchicken
• Goodforagers, feedcosts canbeminimized
• Ideally suitedforsemi-intensive orrangesystemofrearing

DISADVANTAGES

• Criticalinputsare noteasilyavailable
• Management ofturkeypoultsismore difficult
• So,theyarenotableto mate thehensfrequently, fertilityrateislow
• FCR(5.2:1)lowerthan chicken(1.8:1)

SYSTEMOFREARING

FREE RANGE SYSTEM

• Free-range rearing system in turkey farming involves allowing turkeys access tooutdoor areas where they can roam, forage, and exhibit natural behaviors. This system aims to promote animal welfare, enhance meat quality, and minimize environmental impact. Turkeys raised in free-range systems have access to natural vegetation, sunlight, and fresh air, which can contribute to their overall health and well-being.
• Maximumstockdensity-1000hens/ha and each hen -10 m²
• The free-range rearing system in turkey farming offers significant advantages such asa 50% reduction in feed costs and a high cost-benefit ratio. However, it comes with certain disadvantages, including management challenges during disease outbreaks, the need for a larger area for the turkeys to roam, and a higher proportion of dirty eggs.

SEMI-INTENSIVE SYSTEM

• Existing farm building usually open fronted with an adjoining yard
• Maximum stock density-less than 4000 hens/ha
• Each hen-2.5m²

· Advantages of the system include low capital costs and continuous daytime access to open-air runs. However, disadvantages include management challenges during disease outbreaks, the need for larger areas, and a higher proportion of dirty eggs.

INTENSIVE REARING SYSTEM

A. Deeplitter:

• Maximum stock density- not morethan 7 hens perm²
• Advantages of this system include increased manure value and availability of vitamins B2 and B12. However, disadvantages include the need for high-quality litter, susceptibility to litter-borne diseases, and the generation of ammonia odor.

Cagesystem:

• cage system can be adopted in dayold turkey, poults till they attain 8weeks ofage
• Advantages of the system include enhanced production efficiency and improved management practices leading to better disease control. However, the system requires a high initial investment compared to traditional cage system

 TURKEY INCUBATION METHODS

The incubation periodis 28 days in turkey

I. Natural incubation with broody hens:

• Good brooders

• The broodyhencanhatch10-15numbersofeggs
• 60-80%hatchabilityandhealthypoults

II. Artificial Incubation:

• Eggsarehatchedwiththehelp ofincubators
• Egg shouldbeturnedathourlyintervalsdaily
• Setter and hatcher relative humidity(%) are 61-63 and 85-90 respectively
• Temperature (degreef) is 99.5 for both setter and hatcher.

SEX DETERMINATION

MatingSystem

1. NATURAL MATING:

• Matingbehavior-strut
• Sex ratio:1:4-mediumtype, 1:3-largertype
• TendencyinTomtodevelopan affinitytowardsapeculiar female so,changeTomevery15days.

II. ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION

Insemination In Hens:

• AI done when the flock attains 8 to 10 %production
• Volume:0.025to0.030mlofundilutedsemenforevery3 weeks
• Inseminateintheevening
• Averagefertility80to85%

FEEDING MANAGEMENT

Age(weeks)	Typeoffeed	Protein(%)	Energy(kcal/ kg)
0to6	Starter	28	2800
6to8	Growerfirstdiet	26	2800
8to16	Growerseconddiet	22	3000
16tomarket	Finisher	16	3300
Breeders	Breederdiet	14	2900

 

CONCLUSION

• In turkey is mainly rearing for meat purpose
• Due to its heavy weight cannot be used in retail sales
• Half of the feed you can manage with green fodders because it’s a good foragerbut, because of its poor FCR the feeding cost goes high.
• Turkey rearing is more profitable when there is more demand.

 Reference

• Turkey farming guide
• https://agritech.tnau.ac.in