Phenotypic characterization of the Guajolote (Meleagris gallopavo gallopavo) in Mexico

Abstract

SummaryThe study was conducted to investigate the phenotypic diversity of Guajolote present in small backyard poultry operations. From September 2004 to July 2006, in 54 municipalities in the coastal region of Oaxaca, Mexico 768 “guajalotes” growers were visited. Eleven different phenotypes of Guajolote, previously described as turkey varieties, have been identified. The phenotypes identified and their frequency are: Bronze (30.1%), Black (29.0%), Royal Palm (13.4%), Auburn (5.3%), Bourbon Red (5.2%), Narragancet (2.6%), Spotted (2.4%), Brown (2.2%), Slate (1.7%), White (1.5%) and Imperfect Albino (0.2%). The remainder (6.4%) were not identified as a phenotype previously described. This is the first report about the phenotypic differentiation of Guajolote in Mexico.

Análisis de variables morfológicas de pavos de traspatio mexicanos (Meleagris gallopavo gallopavo)

“…Sin lugar a dudas, el pavo doméstico mexicano (Meleagris gallopavo gallopavo) es un importante reservorio de genes útiles y posee características adaptativas (1) importantes que le permiten habitar y desarrollarse prácticamente en todas las zonas agroecológicas del territorio mexicano. En la última década, diversos estudios han tenido como objetivo la determinación de la diversidad morfológica y genética de pavos de traspatio mexicanos provenientes de algunas regiones específicas de nuestro país, como la Costa de Oaxaca, el municipio de Maní en Yucatán, centro-norte de Chiapas, el estado de Michoacán, y el municipio de Kopala en Puebla (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9) .…”

“…En la última década, diversos estudios han tenido como objetivo la determinación de la diversidad morfológica y genética de pavos de traspatio mexicanos provenientes de algunas regiones específicas de nuestro país, como la Costa de Oaxaca, el municipio de Maní en Yucatán, centro-norte de Chiapas, el estado de Michoacán, y el municipio de Kopala en Puebla (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9) . Sin embargo, es necesaria la evaluación de pavos provenientes de un mayor número de regiones agroecológicas y sistemas de producción.…”

“…The Mexican domestic turkey (Meleagris gallopavo gallopavo) is an important reservoir of useful genes with notable adaptive traits (1) , that allow it to live and develop in almost any of the country's many agro ecological zones. In recent years, a number of studies have addressed the morphological and genetic diversity in Mexican backyard turkeys from certain regions: the coast of the state of Oaxaca; Mani municipality in the state of Yucatan; the north-central portion of the state of Chiapas; the state of Michoacán; and Kopala municipality in the state of Puebla (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9) .…”

“…In recent years, a number of studies have addressed the morphological and genetic diversity in Mexican backyard turkeys from certain regions: the coast of the state of Oaxaca; Mani municipality in the state of Yucatan; the north-central portion of the state of Chiapas; the state of Michoacán; and Kopala municipality in the state of Puebla (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9) . This is only a small portion of the country, and studies are needed in many more agro ecological regions and production systems to create a functional database.…”

“…Nine combinations of these four colors were identified (color order does not indicate relative predominance), the most frequent being "black with white" (18.1 %), followed by "black with white and brown" (10.2 %), "white with brown" (5.8 %), and "black with white and grey" (4.9 %). On the coast of Oaxaca state, the most frequent colors in turkey plumage were black (29.2 %) and "white with black" (30.3%) (2) , whereas in the state of Yucatan the predominant colors were black and "black with brown and white" (4) . Black was also found to be the predominant color among turkeys in the state of Puebla, both in males (46.7 %) and females (52.2 %) (7) , and among native turkeys in Croatia (15) and Morocco (23) .…”