Body Conformation of the Live Market Turkey

Abstract

THE analysis herein reported is concerned with the possibility of securing linear measurements for comparing body shape of live birds. At present selection of breeding stock in both turkeys and market chickens is accomplished purely by subjective comparison. Numerical expressions of body shape lend themselves to accurate analysis. By their use progress in breeding market birds may be evaluated. Jeffreys (1932, 1936) has reported measurements which he considers ideal for the White Holland turkey. However, these measurements are for turkeys at eight months of age, i.e., older than turkeys are ordinarily dressed for market. Jull (1935) in his outline of the turkey breeding plans at Beltsville gives a popular description of a desired market turkey; namely, “ . . . the ultimate object being to produce a relatively short-legged, long-bodied, early maturing, good-fleshing type. . . .” The purpose of this study is to determine whether it is possible to . . .