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Steps involved in production of turkey meat
- (all in)
- Turkey breeders
- fertile eggs production
- hatchery
- DO "poults"
- grower farms
- 14-22wks (wide variation depending on what they will be used for)
- culled and processed
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Selection characteristics (turkey)
- improved FCR (not as good as broiler ckn, but still good!)
- increased breast meat yield and meatier thighs
- preference for white feathered varieties
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Housing for turkeys
- Controlled environment:
- fan ventilation, fully enclosed, artificial lighting
- suited to all climates
- pole barn: open sided w/ fixed windows on side walls, more suited temperate climates
- free range: as for pole barn but access to pastureland (open door)
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Turkey breeders (hens)
- lighting: program required to induce a female turkey to lay eggs
- the hens are lit at 30weeks old (light hours increased)
- during a 25 week laying cycle, a hen lays 100-120 eggs (in lifetime)
- DO-36hrs= 23 hours Light, 1 hour dark high intensity
- 38hrs-18weeks= 14-16 L, 8-10 D medium intensity
- 18wks-29.5wks= 8 L, 14 D, medium intensity
- 29,5wks- end of production 14-16 L, 8-10 D high intensity (time to breed!)
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Turkey breeders (male- stags or toms)
- breeding males usually kept separate from females (separation males from females (6-8 weeks)
- females ar AI!!!!
- lighting program males changed at 24weeks to stimulate semen production 14hrs L
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Semen collection from the stages
- benefits of AI:
- fewer males per number of females
- less damage to females
- improved fertility
- stags/toms are milked at least once per week (sperm cannot be stored)
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AI of the hens
- deposition near sperm host glands (above vagina, below oviduct (through cloaca))
- insemination every 2-3 weeks
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Turkey eggs and Poults
- Eggs are tan w/ brown specks and are larger than chicken eggs
- inclubation period= 28 days (vs. 21)
- a DO turkey is called a poult
- a poult doubles it's weight w/in the first week
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Growing commercials objectives:
- to provide an environment that maximises feed consumption and allows birds to grow to their potential
- to minimise stresses that neg. impact growth potential
- to achieve live performance goals
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brooding and rearing commercials
- housing type and design
- equipment: feeders, drinkers, litter, brooders, surrounds
- site prep: 24 hours prior to poult arrival
- stocking density (<38kg/m2)
- ventilation and temp (artificial heating required ~ 6 weeks)
- lighting (from 2 weeks- intermittent lighting, 6 x 2 L and 2D; traditionally 16L)
- maybe requirement to beak trim (2-5wks) and de snood males <3weeks)
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brooding and rearing nutrition
- poults need to be coaxed to eat and drink
- phase feeding, ad libatum, biggest expense
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Grow out period for commercials
- hens are usually sold as whole birds (14 weeks= 7.5kg)
- stags are usually sold for futher processing: 20 wks= 16kg, 40 kg of feed!
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