To obtain meat, farmers are increasingly raising heavy cross-breed turkeys. The bird species quickly gains weight. The products are valued for their taste and high quality. Broiler maintenance in the household will become an economically profitable direction. But caring for a bird requires attention, knowledge of behavioral characteristics and compliance with the rules of care and feeding.
Productivity characteristics
Today, not only large breeders, but also owners of small farms, choose cross-bred turkeys for meat. The weight of poultry reaches 16 kilograms or more.Egg production rates are high - up to 150 eggs per year.
Females begin to lay eggs at 10 months of age. In a well-equipped, warm room, the process does not stop in winter. Birds have a high brooding instinct. Birds do not even throw away other people's eggs. The best hens are 2-year-old turkeys. The offspring are viable, no more than a tenth of the young die.
How are they different from meat breeds?
When working with crosses, you should understand how this species differs from a meat breed. Descendants of crosses do not inherit the qualities of their parents. Each time, productivity characteristics will decrease, and behavioral reactions will change. This happens because hybrids are crossed. The goal of breeders is to increase the following indicators:
- weight gain;
- increase in annual egg production;
- resistance to diseases.
To obtain crosses, one branch is selected and representatives of several lines with hybrids are connected. Depending on weight, offspring are divided into light, medium and largest, heavy types.
Definition of inbreeding
Crossbreeding of closely related poultry of the same breed is called inbreeding. At the same time, scientists set the task of securing the best characteristics of birds for further breeding. First, parents with high productivity are selected, then young animals obtained as a result of previous crossing. Periodically, the blood is refreshed by mating turkeys from other directions or males from other livestock. This is done to prevent the line from degenerating.
By following feeding rules, creating comfortable conditions for keeping turkeys, and rejecting individuals that do not meet established parameters, inbreeding forms the necessary hereditary characteristics.
Popular representatives
Farmers raise different types of poultry. Each type has its own content characteristics and productivity indicators.
Grade maker
One of the popular types of heavy cross-bred turkeys already weighs 20 kilograms at 4 months of life, females - about 11. The meat has good characteristics, the fat component is only 8%. Egg production rates are average - 100 eggs per year.
The cross takes root well in different climates if kept in a warm room. The temperature in the building is maintained at approximately 28°C. For turkeys, it is recommended to equip spacious poultry houses. In crowded conditions, heavy crosses do not get along well and often fight. For 1 adult male, no more than 8 females are purchased.
White broad-chested
The type was bred by American breeders in the middle of the last century. Heavy cross turkeys, depending on gender, weigh 25 kilograms (males) and 11 kilograms for females. They produce up to 120 eggs per season. The hens incubate in a common nest. The young are cared for until the poults become independent.
White broad-chested crosses have a calm disposition. Aggression is observed only during the mating period. It happens that hens even care for the offspring of other poultry. Turkeys love to be outdoors. Keeping them in a confined space in a cage is not suitable for them.
Hybrid converter
This cross of turkeys takes root well on small farms. The average weight of adult males is 20 kilograms, but there are cases when birds gained 30. They receive few eggs - up to 50 pieces.
Turkeys are distinguished by a calm disposition. Males rarely get into fights with their fellows. But they don’t tolerate other birds in the backyard. In the area of representatives of the heavy cross, the converter is kept separately from other birds.
Criterias of choice
When choosing heavy turkey crosses, the main indicators of productivity, the quality of meat products and the cost of maintaining birds are taken into account. For cultivation, farmers purchase young animals or adult females for incubation. It is better to buy turkey poults at the age of 1 month. Such chicks already eat regular food and are hardy. Therefore, babies will tolerate transportation well and quickly adapt to an unfamiliar place.
They also receive complete information about parents and vaccinations received.
When selecting eggs for further breeding, there are risks of loss. Survival rates are not always high. And it is impossible to estimate how healthy the offspring will be. The condition of the young animals is immediately visible. A sick bird can be recognized even by its appearance.
Growing turkeys will become a profitable business, provided that the maintenance recommendations are followed. Heavy crosses provide a high percentage of tasty, dietary meat. It is important to take into account the ability of birds to adapt to the weather conditions of the region where the farm is located, and the characteristics of the selected type.
