White broad-breasted turkeys: breed description and characteristics, weight table

Growing turkeys at home is recommended to start with the choice for breeding universal breeds. This group of breeds includes white broad-breasted turkeys, characterized by rapid weight gain, tasty high-quality meat and the ability to adapt to the conditions of detention. Turkeys are highly productive and have good disease resistance.

History of Creation

The basis for the creation of the breed was the crossing of a bronze broad-chested bird and a white Dutch. Crossing work was carried out by American specialists for 10 years.The resulting breed showed the effect of heterosis. Heterosis is the quality of the resulting line to exceed all the characteristics of the parent line in terms of performance, productivity, resistance to infections.

The breed of white broad-breasted turkeys became the basis for further crossings. From them such productive breeds as the Stavropol Victoria, Grade Meytor and others were obtained.

Description and characteristics of the breed

Broad-chested white turkeys can be distinguished by their snow-white plumage, which has a glossy sheen. A characteristic feature of the breed is the presence of a black spot in the form of a medallion on the central upper part of the sternum.

Characteristic of the breed:

• dense plumage in the tail area;
• muscular wide developed chest;
• half-oval body;
• presence of growths on the neck and head;
• upper body partially exposed.

Turkeys look smaller than males. The maximum weight of the female is 11 kilograms, the weight of the turkey reaches 25 kilograms.

Table of weight by age.

Age	Maximum value
2 months	2-3 kilos
1 year	5-7 kilos
more than 1 year	from 7-9 kilos

In a few days, turkey poults gain a kilogram of pure meat mass. This breed is different in that young animals can easily be brought to the required body weight if high-calorie foods are included in the diet. The best option for slaughter is for the individual to reach 2 months of age. By this time, the turkey weighs 2 kilograms or more. 6 months is the most profitable slaughter time for keeping poultry for meat.

The puberty of the breed comes to 8-9 months, which means that from this age the turkeys are ready to lay eggs.Egg production is characterized as productive, average in terms of indicators. The female brings up to 120 eggs annually. The average egg weight is 80 grams. A dense shell allows you to provide up to 75 percent of hatching chicks. The survival rate reaches 90 percent.

Information! Among 10 eggs, every second egg is fertilized.

Pros and cons of white broad-chested

Turkeys belong to the category of universal breeds, have advantages and disadvantages.

Pros and consshow good egg production, the laying period lasts from 24 to 54 weeks;at slaughter, the net yield of meat is 70-80 percent of the total body weight;high rates of precocity, turkeys begin to lay when they reach 9 months of age;despite their large size, pizzas grow well in small households.

The disadvantages of the breed are the possible heterogeneity that occurs when domestic crossing of different types of turkeys.

Help! Turkeys of this breed fly well, so breeders are advised to build high fences in order to preserve and protect the livestock.

Subspecies of breed

There are several subspecies within the breed, which are distinguished by weight:

1. Lungs. These are turkeys, whose body weight varies from 5 to 9 kilograms. They adapt well to different conditions of detention, gain weight on any type of diet.
2. Average. Turkeys of this subspecies grow up to 17 kilograms, turkeys - up to 9 kilograms.
3. Heavy. The largest turkeys by the age of 2 can weigh 25 kilograms. Owners achieve this weight by targeted fattening of the birds.

Help! The breed of white broad-breasted turkeys is a group of birds of the meat and dairy line. This means that birds are raised for eggs and meat.

Features of maintenance and care

Growing turkeys at home "from scratch" begins with the arrangement of the territory intended for placement.

The turkey house must be equipped in accordance with the requirements:

1. Arrangement of perches. Perches are placed at a height of at least 70 centimeters. For each bird provide up to 40 centimeters of free space.
2. Nest arrangement. For 5 birds make one nest. The turkey nest is a design with an accessible entrance and rims that limit the interior space.
3. Arrangement of feeders and drinkers. Be sure to place structures with a substrate. The underlay protects against feed loss. Drinkers are placed at a height of 80 centimeters so that the bird does not splash water.

In order for turkeys to fully develop, lighting is provided in the turkey house, temperature is maintained and airing is carried out. In winter, artificial light is turned on for birds so that the daylight hours last 12-13 hours. In order for more light to enter the turkey house, it is necessary to cut a window next to the door. One window is enough for 1 square meter of space.

Domestic turkeys do not tolerate drafts well, therefore, before a cold snap, the cracks in the turkey house are caulked, the doors are insulated, and openings of various types are closed.

The optimal air temperature at which a turkey is comfortable is a temperature from +18 to +25 degrees. When the temperature drops, it is necessary to insulate the room; when the air temperature rises, additional sources of drinking should be provided.

In the summer, the bird needs a walk. Pens are specially built for turkeys so that they can safely walk around the territory without leaving the visibility zone.

Information! For the manufacture of perches, it is recommended to use durable wood, since turkeys weigh a lot. Under their weight, fragile perches can break.

What to feed the birds

Growing turkeys is associated with providing the bird with a complete balanced diet.

Feeding features:

• adults are fed 3 times daily, but during the mating period the frequency of feeding is increased to 5;
• add juicy, fresh grass to the menu in summer;
• winter diet is supplemented with grated vegetables (beets, carrots);
• in addition to food, the bird should have free access to drinkers.

The diet of turkeys consists of the following items:

• various prefabricated compound feeds;
• cereals such as corn, barley, oats;
• boiled peas;
• wheat bran;
• sunflower meal;
• mineral supplements such as yeast, chalk, meat and bone meal, s alt, gravel or shells;
• vitamin supplements.

Help! Succulent feeds affect the dryness / juiciness index of meat. The more succulent feed, the juicier the resulting meat.

Subtleties of breeding

Turkey breeds are good hens. One female incubates up to 20 chicks. A turkey is able to incubate thrown chicken or duck eggs without applying the principle of election. The hatching process lasts from 28 to 32 days.In addition to the natural method, home breeding uses the egg incubation method. It is 90 percent effective.

When turkey poults appear, you must adhere to certain rules that will help you grow full-fledged offspring:

• In the early days, turkeys are fed with cereals mixed with boiled eggs;
• After a while, the chicks begin to be fed a high fiber diet, this is due to the fact that the intestines of the young are arranged like a long curved loop, which requires additional help to empty;
• you can not give the chicks dirty or low-quality food; due to the nature of the structure, the food remains in the stomach for a long time and can provoke an infection;
• For the first 10 days, chicks are fed 8 to 10 times daily, they need plenty of fluids and an additional source of vitamin C, which helps build immunity;
• on the 4-5th day of life, the chicks are given cottage cheese, it makes up for the lack of minerals and vitamins in turkeys;
• feeders are equipped for chicks in such a way that the birds cannot fall into them, since they die when they get very wet;
• during the first 10 days of life, turkeys are artificially illuminated with specially installed lamps.

Information! On the first day after the appearance of the chicks, they do not feed, but give water.

Diseases and prevention

The main danger for a turkey breeder is the development of a disease in one pet or the spread of an epidemic in the entire livestock.

Turkeys are susceptible to the following diseases:

1. Hard goiter. This condition develops due to the fact that the bird begins to eagerly grab food.This phenomenon is observed after a forced or spontaneous hunger strike, when the individual has not received food for a long time. The swelling of the grains in one of the parts of the pharynx leads to the development of goiter. You can determine the process by the hardening of the goiter, the refusal of food or drink. Clogged goiter is treated surgically. Goiter is opened, cleaned.
2. Tuberculosis. A dangerous disease that threatens the loss of a bird. Tuberculosis bacillus hides in dirty feeding utensils, in parts of food that remains on the floor of a turkey house, in bedding that has not been treated after infected birds. When infected, the bird begins to move slowly, loses its appetite, and a small rash appears on the skin. A sick bird cannot be cured. As soon as possible, it is necessary to isolate the turkey, process and ventilate the premises.
3. Helminthiasis. Worms often bother turkeys. They spread through faeces, soil, contaminated bedding. Worms often appear in chicks. You can detect parasites by the behavior of turkeys.They squeak, behave restlessly, begin to absorb food uncontrollably, many of them develop diarrhea. To get rid of worms, they use antihelminthics, special methods for removing them.
4. Smallpox. This is a dangerous disease that turkeys are prone to. The virus enters the house from the outside during all seasons. It is carried by pets, as well as rodents and large insects. Smallpox is manifested by inflammation of the mucous membranes, prolapse of the eye sockets, the appearance and spread of a rash. Smallpox can be prevented by compulsory vaccination.

Preventive support measures:

• ensuring good living conditions;
• maintaining temperature and humidity;
• timely vaccination;
• regular livestock inspection;
• developing a balanced diet with the addition of essential vitamins and minerals.

Breeders claim that breeding white broad-breasted turkeys pays off, on average, in 5 months.

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