ABSTRACT

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of sexual dimorphism on -the market value of local turkeys. A total of 60 turkeys were acquired and separated into males, females, and combined sexes with each group having 20 birds. Feed intake, feed conversion and growth rate were obtained biweekly for each of the treatments groups. The mean body weight obtained showed that there was significant difference (p>0 .05) among the three treatments groups at the end of the starter and finisher phases respectively. Mean body weight at the end of the starter phase were 1360.00 ± 404.70 1, 760.00 ± 4.00, and 1116.26 ± 29.80 for male, female apd combined sexes respectively. While values for the finisher stage were, 2958.33 ± 56.63, 2129.17 ± 43.31 and 2490 ± 93.78 foi male, female and combined sexes respectively. Average daily feed intake (ADFI) at 8 weeks of age was 92.80 ± 6.61g, 63.24 ± 2.49g and 66.86 ± 3.71g for male, female, and combined sexes respectively, and were significantly different with the male having the highest value. Feed conversion ratio was better for the male with an average of 3.75 ± 0.60 followed by tlie sexes combined with an average of 3.76 ± 0.77 while the female only showed the least conversion values. Regression of body weight on age shows that the males have highest growth estimate with the highest R2value (95.2%) as compared to 94.3% for females. More so the gross- benefit analysis conducted also showed that there was significant difference (p>0.05) in the cost of production. The mean revenue and gross margin obtained were 3192 ± 147.16 and 2377.56 ± 165.00 respectively as against 2100±74.25 and 1296.60 + 74.25for females only while those of combined sexes were given as 2625 ± 74.25 and 1785.60 ± 74.25 respectively.