Hatching Traits and Growth of Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) Poults under Sudan Conditions

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to determine the hatching
traits, brooding growth performance and mortality of turkey (Meleagris
gallopavo) poults under Sudan conditions. Six hundred fertile eggs were
brought from France and hatched in Khartoum during March 8 to April 6
2011 and poult brooding was conducted at the University of Bahri Farm
from April 6 to May 4 2011. The results showed that turkey egg had
98.83 % fertility, 79.26 % hatchability of total eggs, 80.2 % hatchability
of fertile eggs, 61.9 % of first class poults from total eggs incubated, 77 %
first class poults from eggs hatched. Poults weighed 49.52 100.02, 183.78,
332.18 and 548.84 g at one day old and at the end of weeks, 1, 2, 3 and 4,
respectively. Mortality was 7.37 % and 100 % for first and second class
poults, respectively. This is the first study done on turkey under Sudan
conditions. It is hoped that this study may be a pioneer to invite more in
depth research on turkey specially now when poultry industry is booming.