D. Zahraddeen, T. Ahemen and P.I. Aliyu
The study was conducted in parts of Jos Plateau to investigate on-farm breeding characteristics of turkeys (February – November, 2008). The results showed that most turkeys (63.3%) attained sexual maturity at the age of 8 – 9 months. About 56.7% of the farmers bred turkeys at 12-month old, and 56.7% of them employed artificial brooding method in raising poults. There were 66.7% farmers reared birds artificially and few others (33.3%) using the free-range system. The results also showed that most farmers (53.3%) do not incubate eggs. The clutch size at hatching was mostly between 6 and 10 eggs at the 28-day incubation period. Hens hatching 0 - 5 and 11 – 15 eggs were 30.0 and 23.3%, respectively. The percentages of hens hatching eggs once, twice and thrice per year were 13.4, 33.3 and 53.3%, respectively. Farmers obtained their breeding/ replacement stock through other farms (20.0%) and purchase (20.0%). Most farms (53.3%) made provision for housing and did give supplementary feeding (96.7%) to their birds. About 73.3% of the farmers had access to veterinary care. The period (4- 6 weeks) recorded highest cases of poult morbidity/ mortality. This study concludes that the turkeys had lowered reproductive performance, which was attributed to uncontrolled breeding, low genetic material and poor management practices. It is, therefore, suggested that for successful turkey farming on the Plateau special considerations must be given to these constraints so as to enable the birds to fully express their genetic make-up.
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