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| Live Performance Characteristics, Pathogen Load and Foot Pad Lesions in Range-Reared
Heritage vs. Conventional Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) |
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B.A. McCrea,
M.A. Leslie,
L.M. Stevenson,
K.S. Macklin,
L.J. Bauermeister and J.B. Hess |
Abstract:
A study was performed to compare the performance of heritage
(Bourbon Red) and conventional (Broad Breasted White) turkey varieties in an
outdoor range management system in the Southeastern United States. Turkeys were
brooded indoors to 4 weeks of age and then moved to outdoor pens until processed
at 17 weeks of age. Period and cumulative BW gain, feed intake and feed conversion
were compared at 7, 10, 13 and 17 weeks of age. The final live weight, carcass
weight and carcass yield were compared for both varieties and sexes of turkeys.
Foot pad lesions were scored at 4, 7, 10, 13 and 17 weeks of age. The presence
of Salmonella, Campylobacter, Clostridium perfringens, total aerobes
and total enteric counts were determined via cloacal swabs or carcass rinsate.
Significant differences between varieties with regard to live performance and
carcass data were noted. The BBW turkeys had a higher feed intake, weight gain,
live weights, carcass weights and carcass yields than the BR turkeys. Significant
differences between the sexes for live weight and carcass weight but not carcass
yield were also noted. Foot pad lesions were often identified in the BBW strain,
with the majority of the BBW turkeys (75.2%) having detectable lesions by week
17. In comparison, the BR turkey had no lesions at week 17. The pathogen load
of the two varieties was not different with the exception of Clostridium
perfringens and total anaerobic counts, both of which were higher in BBW.
The data collected in this study will aid small producers with alternative production
of heritage turkey varieties.
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How to cite this article:
B.A. McCrea, M.A. Leslie, L.M. Stevenson, K.S. Macklin, L.J. Bauermeister and J.B. Hess, 2012. Live Performance Characteristics, Pathogen Load and Foot Pad Lesions in Range-Reared
Heritage vs. Conventional Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo). International Journal of Poultry Science, 11: 438-444.
DOI: 10.3923/ijps.2012.438.444
URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=ijps.2012.438.444
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