PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF MALE AND FEMALE  BROILER TURKEYS REARED ON DIFFERENT HOUSING SYSTEMS

A. Suleiman; M. N. Sabo; H. B. Usman; C. C. Mbakwe; Z. S. Jibia; A. I. Maryam

doi:10.51791/njap.vi.8515

Authors

A. Suleiman Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria
M. N. Sabo Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria
H. B. Usman Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria
C. C. Mbakwe Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria
Z. S. Jibia Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria
A. I. Maryam Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.8515

Keywords:

Performance, Poults, Characteristics, Jake, Hen

Abstract

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance and carcass characteristics of broiler turkeys reared on different housing systems. A total of 48-day-old poults were obtained from a reputable commercial hatchery and reared for 4 weeks indoors. At the end of the fourth week, the poults were moved to the experimental pens. The poults were placed in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design (CRD). The factors were two sexes (male and female) and two housing systems (deep litter and deep litter with outdoor). Data were collected on feed intake, body weight, mortality and carcass characteristics. The result indicated that there were significant (P<0.05) differences between the sexes of the turkeys in terms of initial body weight, final body weight, weight gain and total feed intake. The jake has higher values as compared to the female turkeys. Feed conversion ratio and mortality were similar between the two sexes. Housing did not influence (P>0.05) growth performance parameters measured in this study. The carcass study revealed that live weight, dressed weight and dressing percentage were higher (P<0.05) in males compared to females. Housing also has no significant (P<0.05) effect on carcass characteristics of broiler turkeys