A Survey on Turkey Rearing in Rural Areas of Kwara State, Nigeria

Subject Areas : Camel

O.J. Amao ¹ , K.L. Ayorinde ² , T.R. Fayeye ³

1 - Department of Animal Production, University of Ilorin, P.M.B. 1515, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
2 - Department of Animal Production, University of Ilorin, P.M.B. 1515, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
3 - Department of Animal Production, University of Ilorin, P.M.B. 1515, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria

Received: 2013-10-10 Accepted : 2013-12-15 Published : 2014-09-01

Keywords: Turkey, Breeding, Extension service, Housing, plumage colour,

Abstract :

A participatory rural appraisal technique (PRAT) was used to obtain information from 132 randomly selected turkey farmers in two out of four agricultural development zones in Kwara state, Nigeria. Data were obtained on socio-occupational status of farmers, their production objectives, experience, flock structure, management practices, marketing and consumption of turkey eggs. The results showed that there was more male turkey farmers (52.27%) than females. The average age of farmers was 52.6 years and was either Christian or Muslim (43.18% vs. 56.82%). Most of the farmers were literate and relied solely on the local breed for their production. The mean flock size was 13 birds per farmer. The observed plumage colours were black, white and lavender. Over 90% of the birds were kept either extensively or in a semi-intensive system using locally available food wastes and grains. The mean mating ratio was 1: 1.66. Birds were selected mainly for body weight, while most of the sale of turkey occurs during Christmas (65.15%). About 79% of farmers consume turkey eggs meant for hatching because of their love for the taste of the eggs or due to the inability of the hen to incubate all eggs at once. Results indicate that turkey production is still at subsistence level characterised by poor breeding, feeding, housing and marketing. Improved turkey production will require a more vigorous public extension services. It also calls for the introduction of improved local or crossbred turkeys with a higher genetic potential.

References:

Adebayo S.A., Ogunlade I. and Fayeye T.R. (2013). Scope and common diseases ofrural poultry production by rural women in selected villages of Kwara state, Nigeria.Int. J. Poult. Sci. 12(3), 126-129.
Anandh M.A., Jagatheesan P.N.R., Kumar P.S., Rajarajan G.and Paramasivam A. (2012). Effect of egg weight on egg traits and hatching performance of turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) eggs. Iranian J. Appl. Anim. Sci. 2, 391-395.
Bolla G. (2006). Raising turkeys.Available: http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/606/raising-turkeys Accessed Oct. 2013.
Desta T.T. and Wakeyo O. (2012). Uses and flock management practices of scavenging chickens in Wolaita zone of southern Ethiopia. Trop. Anim. Health Prod. 44, 537-544.
Emmah S.A. (2006). Economic analysis of turkey production in Kaduna and Zaria towns of Kaduna state, Nigeria. MS Thesis. Fac. Agric, Ahmadu Bello University. Nigeria.
Gueye E.F. and van’t Hooft K. (2002). Networking for family poultry development. LEISA. 18, 36.
Ibe S.N. (1990). Utilizing local poultry genetic resources in Nigeria. Pp. 108-112 in Proc. 4^th World Cong. Genet. Appl. Liv. Prod. Edinburgh, Scotland.
Ironkwe M.O. and Akinola L.F. (2010). Profitability of turkey productuion in Ahoada East local government area of Rivers State, Nigeria. Cont. J. Agric. Sci. 4, 38-41.
Klotz J.H. (2006). A Computational Approach to Statistics. Department of Statistics University of Wisconsin, Madison, United States.
Lopez Zavala A., Monterrubio Rico T.C., Cano Camacho H., Chassin Noria O., Aguilera Reyes U. and Zavala Páram M.G. (2008). Native turkey (Meleagris gallopavo gallopavo) backyard production systems’characterization in the physiographic regions of the state of Michoacan, Mexico. Téc Pecu Méx. 46, 303-316.
Mbanasor J.A. and Sampson A. (2004). Socio-economic determinants of turkey production among Nigerian soldiers. Int. J. Poult. Sci. 3(8), 497-502,
Okeno T.O., Magothe T.M., Kahi A.K. and Peters K.J. (2012).Breeding objectives for indigenous chicken: model development and application to different production systems. Trop. Anim. Health Prod. 45(1), 193-203.
Roger M.B. (2000). African minor livestock species Pp. 314-338 in The Origin and Development of African Livestock. M.B. Roger and K.C. Macdonald, Eds. UCL press. London.
Yakubu A., Abimiku K., Musa Azara I.S., Idahor K.O. and Akinsola O.M. (2013). Assessment of flock structure, preference in selection and traits of economic importance of domestic turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) genetic resources in Nasarawa state, Nigeria. Liv. Res. Rural. Dev. 25(1),18.
Yakubu A., Peters S.O., Ilori B.M., Imumorin I.G., Adeleke M.A., Takeet M.I., Ozoje M.O., Ikeobi C.O.N. and Adebambo O.A. (2012). Multifactorial discriminant analysis of morphological and heat tolerant traits in indigenous, exotic and crossbred turkeys in Nigeria. Anim. Genet. Res. 50, 21-27.
Zahraddeen D., Ahemen T. and Aliyu P.I. (2011). On farm studies on breeding characteristics of turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) in parts of Jos plateau, Nigeria.Adv. Appl. Sci. Res. 2, 179-184.