Genetics of Growth and Reproduction in the Turkey

Abstract

THE primary emphasis of commercial turkey breeders has been placed on improving growth rate with little or no importance being given to egg production and other reproductive traits. The object of the turkey breeders should be to develop superior meat birds which will reproduce at a high rate. Accurate knowledge of the heritabilities of and genetic correlations among growth and reproductive traits is important in obtaining this goal. Several estimates of the heritability of body weight and body conformation measurements have been made. In general, the estimates were high (greater than .30) (see review by Nestor et al, 1967). The heritability of egg production has also been estimated by several workers (Wilson and Johnson, 1946; Shaklee et al, 1952; Blow and Glazener, 1954; Kondra and Shoffner, 1955; McCartney, 1955; Blow et al, 1958; Clayton, 1962; Cook et al, 1962; and McCartney, 1962). These estimates varied considerably ranging from —.51 to . . .