ABSTRACT

The research investigated the laying performance and egg quality traits of three local turkey strains. The experiment was carried out using 45 local turkeys, comprising of 36 females and 9 males [15 Blacks (BKT), 15 White (WHT) and 15 Spotted (SPT)] obtained from Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Teaching and Research Farm Umudike. Eggs were collected from the different strains for 9 weeks. A total of three hundred and three eggs (303) were laid by turkey hens in 9 weeks and were used for the external egg quality determination. Fifty four (54) eggs were randomly selected and used to evaluate the internal quality parameters as well as the shell thickness and shell ratio. Egg weight, egg length, egg width, shell thickness, shell ratio. egg shape index were the external quality parameters measured. Yolk height, yolk width, yolk index, albumen height, albumen width, albumen index and haugh unit were the internal quality parameters measured. The data collected was subjected to ANOV A in a Completely Randomized Design. The result showed that the SPT had significantly (P<0.05) higher values for egg weight in week I and 3, egg width week I and 4 compared to the values recorded for WHT and BKT strains. The values on SPT on egg weight ranged between 72.13±0.87 to 64.44±0.78, egg width ranged between 44.00±0.21 to 42.69±0.33. The BKT had significantly higher (P><0.05) values for egg length in week I and 7 compared to the values recorded for SPT and WHT strains. The values ranged from 63.67±0.43 to 60.36±0.63. The result indicated significant differences (P><0.05) in Albumen quality and haugh unit. The SPT showed significantly (P><0.05) higher values in albumen quality and haugh unit compared to the values recorded for BKT and WHT strains. The values recorded for Albumen width (92.19± 1.21, 87.28±1. 10, 82.94±1.20), Albumen height (7.56±0.16, 6.50±0.11, 5.92±0.14), Albumen index (8.23±0.92, 7.37±0.19, 6.98±0.17) and Haugh unit (97.79±0.38, 94.89±0.34 and 93.03±0.51) in SPT, BKT and WI-IT respectively. The laying performance traits were egg number, hen-day (%) and hen-house (%) egg production. There was significant differences (P><0.05) in weeks 1, 3, 7 and 9 for egg number. The SPT had significantly (P><0.05) higher values for egg number compared to other strains. The values ranged between 7.00±0.00 to 1.3340.33 (SPT), 4.33±0.33 to 0.00 (WHT) and 2.00±0.00 to 0.67±0.33 (BKT). Hen-day egg production indicated significant differences (P><0.05) in weeks I, 5, 7 and 8 with WHT showing the highest values as 27.14±0.01 to 16.30±0.03. Hen-house egg production indicated significant differences (P><0.05) in weeks I, 4, 5,7 and 8 with WHT showing the highest values as 27.18±0.06 to 11.39±0.03. It was concluded that Spotted strain showed the best performance for selection and improvement than White and Black strains of local turkey. > higher values for egg weight in week I and 3, egg width week I and 4 compared to the values recorded for WHT and BKT strains. The values on SPT on egg weight ranged between 72.13±0.87 to 64.44±0.78, egg width ranged between 44.00±0.21 to 42.69±0.33. The BKT had significantly higher (P<0.05) values for egg length in week I and 7 compared to the values recorded for SPT and WHT strains. The values ranged from 63.67±0.43 to 60.36±0.63. The result indicated significant differences (P><0.05) in Albumen quality and haugh unit. The SPT showed significantly (P><0.05) higher values in albumen quality and haugh unit compared to the values recorded for BKT and WHT strains. The values recorded for Albumen width (92.19± 1.21, 87.28±1. 10, 82.94±1.20), Albumen height (7.56±0.16, 6.50±0.11, 5.92±0.14), Albumen index (8.23±0.92, 7.37±0.19, 6.98±0.17) and Haugh unit (97.79±0.38, 94.89±0.34 and 93.03±0.51) in SPT, BKT and WI-IT respectively. The laying performance traits were egg number, hen-day (%) and hen-house (%) egg production. There was significant differences (P><0.05) in weeks 1, 3, 7 and 9 for egg number. The SPT had significantly (P><0.05) higher values for egg number compared to other strains. The values ranged between 7.00±0.00 to 1.3340.33 (SPT), 4.33±0.33 to 0.00 (WHT) and 2.00±0.00 to 0.67±0.33 (BKT). Hen-day egg production indicated significant differences (P><0.05) in weeks I, 5, 7 and 8 with WHT showing the highest values as 27.14±0.01 to 16.30±0.03. Hen-house egg production indicated significant differences (P><0.05) in weeks I, 4, 5,7 and 8 with WHT showing the highest values as 27.18±0.06 to 11.39±0.03. It was concluded that Spotted strain showed the best performance for selection and improvement than White and Black strains of local turkey> values for egg length in week I and 7 compared to the values recorded for SPT and WHT strains. The values ranged from 63.67±0.43 to 60.36±0.63. The result indicated significant differences (P<0.05) in Albumen quality and haugh unit. The SPT showed significantly > higher values in albumen quality and haugh unit compared to the values recorded for BKT and WHT strains. The values recorded for Albumen width (92.19± 1.21, 87.28±1. 10, 82.94±1.20), Albumen height (7.56±0.16, 6.50±0.11, 5.92±0.14), Albumen index (8.23±0.92, 7.37±0.19, 6.98±0.17) and Haugh unit (97.79±0.38, 94.89±0.34 and 93.03±0.51) in SPT, BKT and WI-IT respectively. The laying performance traits were egg number, hen-day (%) and hen-house (%) egg production. There was significant differences (P<0.05) in weeks 1, 3, 7 and 9 for egg number. The SPT had significantly (P><0.05) higher values for egg number compared to other strains. The values ranged between 7.00±0.00 to 1.3340.33 (SPT), 4.33±0.33 to 0.00 (WHT) and 2.00±0.00 to 0.67±0.33 (BKT). Hen-day egg production indicated significant differences (P><0.05) in weeks I, 5, 7 and 8 with WHT showing the highest values as 27.14±0.01 to 16.30±0.03. Hen-house egg production indicated significant differences (P><0.05) in weeks I, 4, 5,7 and 8 with WHT showing the highest values as 27.18±0.06 to 11.39±0.03. It was concluded that Spotted strain showed the best performance for selection and improvement than White and Black strains of local turkey> in weeks I, 4, 5,7 and 8 with WHT showing the highest values as 27.18±0.06 to 11.39±0.03. It was concluded that Spotted strain showed the best performance for selection and improvement than White and Black strains of local turkey