ANIMAL HUSBANDRY INFORMATION

TURKEY

Success story of a Turkey farmer

A turkey farm is located in Ramachampadam village near Nilambur in Malappuram district of Kerala. Mr. Aviyil Joseph an innovative farmer of the village follows indigenous and low cost practices. He follows selective mating, selection of eggs, simple incubation techniques, early care of chicks, preparation of feed mixture and health care. He maintains a male: female ratio of 1:3 and the turkey attains 5-8 Kgs and fetches Rs.450-500 per bird. He sells about 300 eggs and 150 poults every year. He gets premium price during Christmas and New Year. The Turkey produces one egg every alternate day from six months onwards. He replaces his stock every year. The male and female birds are housed separately after attaining sexual maturity. Intensive mating takes place in summer. If the males develop affinity towards certain females they kept away separately from each other in the morning. Mating in the evening increases fertility. According to him when the birds become fat they become susceptible for diseases. Hatching of eggs is done by using broody hens. A mixture of egg yolk, fine bits of onion and neem leaves are made into small pellets and fed up to 40 days of age. After that grains, tapioca chips and oil cakes are given. A special paste made of rice bran and other available grain residues are also used for feeding. Plenty of clean water is also given.

Marketing

The meat of turkey has nutritional and sensorial properties which make it almost ideal raw material for rational and curative nutrition. The turkey can produce 30gm of digestible protein from 100gm feed. The dressing percentage of turkey is 80-87%, which is highest of all farm species.

• The body weight of tom and hen turkey at the 16th week is 7.26 kg and 5.53kg. This is optimum weight for marketing the turkeys.
• The cumulative feed efficiency at the marketing should be 1:2.8 for toms and 1:2.7 for hens. A market study shows that a male turkey sold at 24 weeks of age weighing 10 to 20 kg with expenditure of Rs.300 to 450 will give a profit of Rs. 500 to 600. Likewise a female will give a profit of Rs.300 to 400 in a span of 24 weeks time. Besides, the turkey can be reared in scavenging and semi-scavenging conditions also.

There is considerable scope for turkey rearing in India, as turkey can be reared in free range or semi intensive systems especially in rural areas for economic enhancement of landless laborers, marginal and small farmers. Free-range turkey rearing method requires low investment in facilities and equipments and it is a viable and sustainable bird both for backyard and commercial venture in economic point of view. Turkeys are suitable birds for tropical climate of Indian sub continent.

Last updated: 26-8-2006