Effect of genotype on body weight and average feed intake of f locally-adapted turkey of Nigeria

Abstract

A total of 78 day-old Random-bred Nigerian local turkey poults were used as parent stock to generate 232, 1 day-old poults ( ) used in the evaluation of the Nigerian local turkey phenotypes based on egg quality parameters. Three phenotypic classes (black, white and spotted) were obtained as base population and used to generate F progeny for the study. Experimental design for the experiment was a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with phenotypic class as major factor of interest. Results showed that Initial body weights were 62.39g, 62.56g and 62.43g in black, white and spotted respectively, whereas final body weights were 2761.25g, 2586g and 2697.58g in black, white and spotted respectively, and differed significantly (p<0.05) in weeks 13 and 17 with the heaviest weight in black phenotype. Therewas no significant difference (p>0.05) in bodyweights of the phenotypes in all other weeks. With the exception of weeks 3 and 13 in which there were significant differences (p<0.05), there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in average daily feed intake (ADFI) in all other weeks. It was therefore, concluded that for rapid improvement of these traits, the black variety could be used to enhance growth of Nigerian local turkeys in the study area. The present findings could assist in the design of long-term genetic improvement programmes for turkey production in Nigeria.