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Origin and characteristics of the Maltese Black-Bronze Turkey

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2011

J.G. Mallia
J.G. Mallia
Affiliation:
Institute of Agriculture, University of Malta, Msida MSD 06, Malta
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Summary

The Maltese Black-Bronze Turkey is a previously undescribed, rustic breed of turkey raised exclusively in backyard conditions. The broad-breasting trait (prevalence, P=100 percent), “bronzing” on the rump and tail (P=100 percent) and “wild type” wing markings (P=78 percent) were present. The average weight (AW) and standard error (SE) and weight range (WR) of turkeys (N=50) at 12 weeks, 20 weeks and 24 weeks of age was of 3.34 ± 0.04 kg and WR = 2.80–3.80 kg, 8.14 ± 0.09 kg and WR = 7.10–9.10 kg, 10.37 ± 0.10 kg and WR = 9.40–11.70 kg, respectively.

The AW ± SE and WR of a skinned, excised breast muscle (P. major and P. profundus combined) and of a skinned leg of turkey at 24 weeks was of 1.37±0.08 kg and WR=1.05±1.65 kg and 0.98±0.08 kg and WR=0.9-1.10 kg, respectively. There were no mortalities during the study (P=0 percent) and no birds were condemned at slaughter (P=0 percent) at 24 weeks. Although growth rates were not as fast as commercial strains raised in industrial conditions, carcass quality and conformation were good. Persons (N=2) visually assessing meat colour found only 2 percent breast muscle to be darker than that of industrially-raised turkey. However, poor intra-rater agreement and inter-rater agreement for darkness of breast muscle indicated that it was indistinguishable from the breast muscle of industrially raised birds. When only feed costs were included, the price per kg live weight was of US$ 0.99, US$ 0.74 and US$ 0.98 for 12, 20 and 24 weeks of age, respectively. Raising this breed of turkey for 20 weeks appears to be the most profitable age for marketing under small-scale semi-intensive conditions, but it is slower growing than industrial birds as the latter reach 8–16 kg at 14–20 weeks. A questionnaire based on 322 respondents identified that there was a high, but unsatisfied demand for slower growing turkeys raised in “more natural” backyard conditions (P=89 percent). The Maltese Black-Bronze Turkey had the necessary characteristics to fill this niche market.

Resumen

El pavo Maltese Black-Bronze pertenece a una raza rústica no descrita hasta la fecha que se cría únicamente en condiciones de corral. Encontramos la característica de pecho amplio (normalmente P=100%) y de “tipo silvestre” de alas (P=78%). El peso medio (PM) y la desviación estándar (DE) así como el ranking de peso (RP) de esta raza (N=50) a 12, 20 y 24 semanas es de 3,34±0,04 y RP=2,80–3,80 kg, 8,14+0,09 kg y RP=7,10–9,10 kg, 10,37+0,10 kg y RP=9,40–11,70 kg, respectivamente. El PM±DE y RP de tallo de músculo de pecho sin piel (P. major y P. profundus combinados) y de una pata sin piel de pavo de 24 semanas fue de 1.37±0,08 kg y el RP=1,05±1,65 kg y 0,98±0,08 kg y RP=0,9–1,10 kg, respectivamente. No hubo mortalidad durante el estudio (P=0%) y no fue necesario llevar ningún animal al matadero (P=0%) con 24 semanas. A pesar de que la media de crecimiento no fue tan alta como para las razas comerciales criadas en condiciones industriales, la calidad de la canal y la conformación fueron buenas. Las personas (N=2) que controlaron visualmente el color de la carne encontraron sólo un 2% de músculo del pecho más oscuro que en los pavos criados industrialmente. Sin embargo.

Keywords

Meleagris gallopavo mexicanaMeleagris gallopavo silvestrisCarcass characteristicsCarcass dispositionCost analysisRoman and Maltese roosterDoondyan
Type
Research Articles
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 29 , April 2001 , pp. 79 - 90
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2001

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