ABSTRACT
A study was conducted to assess the effect of breed, sex and age on growth, haematological, serum biochemical and carcass characteristics of Turkey. The data was generated from 100 Turkeys which comprised 50 Norfolk breed and 50 Mammoth breed. The growth traits included biweekly body weight (BW) and linear body measurements: neck length (NL), body length (BL), thigh length (TL), shank length (SL), chest girth (CG) and wing length (WL). Haematological parameters included packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), pH, red blood cells (RBC) and white blood cells (WBC). Biochemical parameters included total protein (Tp), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and creatinine and all the carcass traits (live weight, dressed weight, carcass weight, thigh, breast, wing, back, drumstick and neck). The results obtained for body weight at 20 weeks were 4.15kg and 2.80kg, respectively for male and female Norfolk while for Mammoth were 3.70kg and 3.02kg for male and female, from the result it shows that the male of Norfolk have significantly (P<0.05) higher BW than the male of Mammoth but the female of Mammoth have significantly (P<0.05) higher BW than the female of Norfolk. For linear body measurements the result shows that the male of Norfolk have the higher values which are significantly (P<0.05) different in all the parameters measured than the Mammoth male but no significant (P>0.05) difference were observed in all the parameters measured between the females except for BL where the Mammoth female have significantly (P<0.05) higher value than that of Norfolk. The result of haematological parameters shows that there were significant (P<0.05) difference between the breeds but no significantly (P>0.05) difference between sex within breed with Mammoth having the best values in all the parameters measured except for WBC, where the Norfolk have the best values. For biochemical parameters it shows that there were significant (P<0.05) difference in Tp and ALT values between the breed but no significant (P>0.05) different between sex within breed. AST and Creatinine have no significant (P>0.05) difference between and within the breed. The result of carcass shows that there were significant (P<0.05) difference in all the traits measured between and within the breed except thigh which has no significance (P>.05) difference by the breed and sex. For the organs Norfolk also have the higher values. The result for correlations shows highly positive correlation and high significant (p<0.01) between neck and thigh with moderate between drumstick and breast and all other traits that were measured are highly positively correlated in Norfolk while in Mammoth it was moderate to low positive correlations between the traits. In conclusion the Norfolk breed is better because it has high body weight and fast growth, so the farmers should go for Norfolk.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE …………………………………………………………………………………………………. i
DECLARATION …………………………………………………………………………………………… ii
CERTIFICATION …………………………………………………………………………………………. iii
DEDICATION ……………………………………………………………………………………………… iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ……………………………………………………………………………….v
TABLE OF CONTENTS ……………………………………………………………………………… viii
ABSTRACT ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. xiii
CHAPTER ONE ……………………………………………………………………………………………..1
1.0 INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………………………………………….1
1.1 Justification…………………………………………………………………………………………..3
1.3 Objectives …………………………………………………………………………………………….4
CHAPTER TWO …………………………………………………………………………………………….5
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW ………………………………………………………………………..5
2.1 Taxonomy and History of Turkey …………………………………………………………….5
2.2 Domestication of Turkey …………………………………………………………………………6
2.3 Physical Description of Various Breeds of Turkey ………………………………………6
2.3.2 Bronze white …………………………………………………………………………………………7
2.4 Turkey Production in Nigeria …………………………………………………………………..8
2.5 Factors Affecting Growth and Performance of Turkey …………………………………8
2.5.1 Environmental temperature and management ……………………………………………..8
2.5.2 Breed …………………………………………………………………………………………………..9
2.5.3 Disease ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 10
2.5.4 Feed and water consumption …………………………………………………………………. 11
ix
2.6 Body Weight ………………………………………………………………………………………. 12
2.7. Haematological Parameters……………………………………………………………………….. 12
2.7.1. Packed cells volume (PCV) ……………………………………………………………………. 12
2.7.2. Haemoglobin (Hb) ………………………………………………………………………………… 13
2.7.3 Red blood cells (RBCs) ………………………………………………………………………….. 13
2.7.4 White blood cells (WBCs) ………………………………………………………………………. 14
2.7.5 Serum biochemical parameters ………………………………………………………………… 14
2.7.6 Total protein (Tp) ………………………………………………………………………………….. 14
2.7.7 Creatinine …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 15
2.7.8 Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ……………………………………………………………. 16
2.7.9 Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ………………………………………………………………. 16
2.8 Carcass Characteristics ……………………………………………………………………………… 17
2.8.1 Internal organs: ……………………………………………………………………………………… 17
CHAPTER THREE ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 19
3.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS: ……………………………………………………………….. 19
3.1 Experimental Site …………………………………………………………………………………….. 19
3.2 Source of Experimental Birds: ……………………………………………………………………. 19
3.3 Management of Experimental Birds: ……………………………………………………………. 19
3.4 Experimental Design: ……………………………………………………………………………….. 20
3.5 Data Collection ………………………………………………………………………………………… 20
3.5.1 Body weight (kg): ………………………………………………………………………………….. 20
3.5.2 Linear body measurements: …………………………………………………………………….. 20
x
3.5.3 Haematology ………………………………………………………………………………………… 21
3.5.4 Serum Biochemistry ………………………………………………………………………………. 21
3.5.5 Carcass evaluation: ………………………………………………………………………………… 22
3.6 Statistical Analysis: ………………………………………………………………………………….. 24
CHAPTER FOUR …………………………………………………………………………………………. 25
4.0 RESULTS ………………………………………………………………………………………………. 25
4.1 Breed and Sex Effect on Growth, Blood and Carcass Characteristics ………………… 25
4.2 Breed and Age Effects on Body Measurement and Blood Profiles ……………………. 31
4.3 Breed, Sex and Age Effects on Growth and Blood Profiles ……………………………… 36
4.4 Correlation Coefficients …………………………………………………………………………….. 40
CHAPTER FIVE …………………………………………………………………………………………… 52
5.0 DISCUSSION …………………………………………………………………………………………. 52
5.1 Breed and Sex Effect on Growth, Blood and Carcass Characteristics ………………… 52
5.2 Breed and Age Effects on Body Measurement and Blood Profiles ……………………. 53
5.3 Breed, Sex and Age Effects on Growth and Blood Profiles ……………………………… 54
5.4 Correlation Coefficients …………………………………………………………………………….. 56
CHAPTER SIX …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 58
6.0 SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ………………………. 58
6.1 Summary ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 58
6.2 Conclusions …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 59
6.3 Recommendations ……………………………………………………………………………………. 59
REFERENCES: ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 60
xi
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is a source of animal protein and one of the world‘s most demanded poultry. And it‘s meat consumed in large quantities in Nigeria. Despite the increase in demand for turkey consumption, there are no large scale commercial turkey farms in Nigeria to meet the ever increasing demand (Ogah, 2011). Turkey breeders have selected birds for fast growth and large body size in order to maximize production (Kranis et al., 2008). Turkey has been found to contribute to the economic and social life of Nigerians in that they are used during festive periods (Smith, 1990). Growth is defined as the increase in the numbers of cell of the body. Growth performance of an animal is the phenotypic expression of the animal genetic makeup (genotype), (Oluyemi and Roberts, 2000). The exact time at which the animal is ready for slaughter can be consider on the basis of body weight and general development (Kabir et al., 2006). Nowadays with the vast majority of poultry products being marketed in cut-up parts, yield of high value items such as breast and thigh have become critical to processors (Young et al., 2001). Watts and Kennett (1995) reported that demand for high quality parts have driven poultry industry to change their marketing practices to cut-up parts in response to consumer‘s needs.
Linear body measurements are useful in live weight determination (Gul et al., 2005). The relationships existing among linear body traits provide useful information on performance, productivity and carcass characteristics (Kabir et al., 2010). A number of
2
external body parts are known to be positively correlated with body weight (Okon et al., 1997). Adeniji and Ayorinde (1990) reported that establishment of relationship between body weight and conformation traits such as shank length, thigh length, breast width, neck length and back length makes the work of breeders easier and faster as efforts can be concentrated on those traits that are easier to be measured. Linear body measurements have also been used to predict live weight in poultry (Gueye, 1998).
Ibe and Ezekwe (1994) reported that body weight and linear body measurements have been documented and found useful in qualifying body size and shape. It has been reported that genetic variation in carcass traits and body shape in turkey has received little attention (Nestor et al., 2001). Variation in body weight within a flock can be attributed to genetic variation and environmental factors that impinge on individuals (Ayorinde and Oke, 1995). In comparing between body parts of two strains of Nicholas and hybrid turkey, Barbour and Lilburn (1996) had reported heavier weight of pectoral’s major and tibia, plus associated muscles, as well as higher relative weights of pectoral’s major in the hybrid toms at 72 and 82 days. Development of muscles and bones were studied by Brenoe and Kolstand (2000) during the period of 4-12 weeks old in two commercial strains of turkeys (BUT-9 and Nicholas) of both sexes. The authors reported that meat proportion increased and bone percentage decreased significantly throughout the experimental period for both strains and sexes. BUT-9 tended to have a higher percentage of meat than Nicholas, while Nicholas strain of turkey showed lower bone percentage than BUT-9. They concluded that BUT-9 males should be preferred, since males gained significantly higher body weight and had higher meat percentage from 8 week of age. Males of late ages should be used in production to satisfy the market for high slaughter weights with large pieces of meat, while females should be
3
slaughtered at lower live weights because females had a higher meat percentage at young ages compared with males. Bounous et al. (2000) observed that white blood cells and differentials counts, serum albumin, aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) have not been previously reported for domestic or wild turkeys. Warren, (1995) reported that there are differences between serum chemistry characteristics of different breeds of turkey at different ages from different geographical and agricultural zones of the world. Adejumo et al. (2005) reported that serum biochemical values have been established in most domestic mammalian species and limited information is available for domestic avian species and even less has been established for Turkey species.
1.1 Justification
Ogah (2011) reported that body weights of turkey at different ages have to be predicted with reasonable accuracy by taking various body measurements. The most common parameters used for body measurements in turkey are; shank length, breast girth, keel length, body length and thigh length (Ilori et al., 2010). Turkey production in Nigeria is not well documented and information on growth pattern of turkey is mostly non-available (Riva et al., 2002). There is need for researchers to seek how to improve turkey production in terms of it‘s growth and carcass characteristics (Lawrence and Fowler, 2002). These can be achieved on the basis of conducting studies on the effects and relationships among breed, age and sex in relation to growth, haematological, serum biochemistry and carcass characteristics of common turkey breeds that are reared in Nigeria. There was limited information on blood available for domestic avian species and even less has been established for turkey species. Breed, sex and feeding also
4
influence carcass quality which affect market demand. This study was conducted to obtain information on different breeds of turkey (Norfolk black and Mammoth-bronze) with interest on growth, carcass characteristics and blood parameters. 1.2 Hypotheses Null:
Breed of turkey (Norfolk-black and Mammoth-bronze) has no effect on Body weight, growth rate and carcass characteristics.
Sex of the turkey breeds has no effect on weight, growth rate and carcass weight.
Breed, sex and age have no effect on blood parameters of Turkey.
1.3 Objectives
The objectives of the study were to determine:
1. The effect of breed of turkey (Norfolk-black and Mammoth-bronze) on body weight, growth rate and carcass characteristics.
2. The effect of sex of the birds on body weight, growth rate and carcass characteristics of two breeds of turkey (Norfolk-black and Mammoth-bronze).
3. The effect of breed, sex and age on blood parameters of turkey.
4. The correlation among growth and carcass traits of the two breeds.
5
IF YOU CAN'T FIND YOUR TOPIC, CLICK HERE TO HIRE A WRITER»
