Effects of genotype and sex on carcass characteristics of Nicholas white, Nigerian local and their reciprocal crossbred poults

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of genotype and sex on the slaughter and carcass characteristics of Nicholas white, Nigerian local and their reciprocal crossbred turkey poults. The birds used for the study were fed on starter mash (28% CP, 3100KcalME/Kg) for six weeks and grower mash (24% CP, 3000KcalME/Kg) from 7 –20 weeks of age. In the first trial consisting of 374 turkey poults, sixteen (8 male, 8 female) poults belonging to four genotypes (Nicholas White x Nicholas White, Nicholas White x Nigerian-Local, Nigerian-Local x Nicholas White, Nigerian Local x Nigerian Local) were randomly selected for slaughter at eight weeks of age. In the second trial, another set of 16 birds were randomly selected from the same base population for slaughter at 20 weeks of age. The purebred Nicholas White poults slaughtered at 8^th and 20^th weeks had significantly higher (P<0.05) live, bled, eviscerated and pluck weights as well as weights (and %) of primal cuts, and internal organs than the other three genotypes. The Nicholas White x Nigerian local crossbred was superior in slaughter and carcass characteristics than its reciprocal cross (in both trials) possibly due to sire effects of the Nicholas male. Male poults slaughtered at 8^th and 20^th weeks had significantly higher (P<0.05) live, bled and pluck weights, weights of primal cuts and internal organs than the female poults. The interaction between genotype and sex was significant (P<0.05) for all the investigated carcass traits. All the measured economic traits were significantly correlated (P<0.05) with the eviscerated weight, with the exception of gizzard in 20 weeks old turkey. The present report showed that crossbreeding could be employed to improving the meat production of the Nigerian local turkeys.