On Farm Study of Breeding and Production Systems Characterization of Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) in Oyo Metropolis, Oyo State, Nigeria
[1]
Amao Shola Rasheed, Department of Agricultural Education (Animal Science Division, Animal Breeding and Genetics Units), School of Vocational and Technical Education, Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Isokun Campus, Nigeria.
[2]
Ojedapo Lamidi Oladejo, Department of Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
[3]
Olugbemiga Kayode Samuel, Department of Animal Production and Health, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
The on farm study of breeding and production systems characterization of Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) birds in Oyo metropolis of Oyo State, Nigeria was evaluated with 120 selected farmers. One hundred and twenty structured questionnaires were randomly administered to turkey farmers to collate some relevant information on the breeding and production systems characterization of Turkey birds. The data collected were to describe background information of the farmers, some reproductive trails of turkeys, breeding characterization of turkeys and management practices adopted in this district area. The results showed that majority (71.4%) of the farmers were within the age group of 24-29 years. Turkey rearing in the study area was mainly a business for the males, accounting for about 60.0%. The educational background of the farmers showed that 70.0% had formal and tertiary education. However, the results revealed that most turkey (60.0%) attained sexual maturity at the age of 8-9 months. 60.0% of farmers bred turkeys at 12 month old and 60.0% of them adopted artificial brooding method in raising poults while 70.0% farmers reared birds artificially. The results also showed that half of farmers incubate eggs (naturally or artificially). The clutch size at hatching was highest between 6 and 10 eggs at the 28-32 day incubation period. The hatching ability of the turkey in a year was highest (50%) a year. Farmers mostly keep 50-100 birds (60%) as their flock size with majority of the farmers (50%) raised imported turkeys and (40%). 73.33% of the farmers made provision for housing and mostly under semi intensive system (50%) of management with good supplementary feeding to intensive kept birds. Majority of the farmers had access to veterinary care (70.00%) with obtainable highest poults, mortality at the period of (0-3 weeks). The study concluded that turkey had low reproductive performance, which was due to non-monitored breeding, lower genetic make- up and poor management practices. It’s therefore, suggested that for meaningful turkey farming in Oyo metropolis, special attention must be given to these constrains to enable turkey fully express their genetic potential.
Poultry Production, Management Practices, Reproductive Traits, Nigeria
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