EFFECT OF REARING SYSTEMS ON THE REPRODUCTIVE TRAITS OF TURKEY

Abstract

The study was aimed at observing the effect of rearing systems on the reproductive traits (egg weight, infertile eggs, early embryonic mortality, fertility, hatchability, poult hatched weight etc.) of turkey (Meleagris gallopavo). A total of 50 turkey farms was taken into consideration in this study randomly to gather reproductive data of turkey from the farmers. Reproductive data were collected from three types of farming such as intensive system (full confinement), semi-intensive system (partial confinement and partial day scavenging) and free range system (all-day scavenging). Besides, data of survivability (%) of turkey were also collected and showed that, higher survivality were in the birds reared under intensive system of management followed by semi intensive system and free range system of management. The highest percentage of dead in shell was found in intensive system, and it was well nigh similar to semi intensive and free range system. Hatched weight of poults (g) between semi intensive and intensive system had no variation between them, but both groups had a bit difference from free range system. From the study, it can be concluded that higher reproductive traits were obtained in intensive system of management followed by semi intensive and free range system of management, respectively.