Sex and Age Related Production Efficiency, Grades and Yields with the Small White Broiler-Fryer Type Turkey

A COMMERCIAL source Large White turkey has been shown to be highly dependent upon age not only to meet minimum market standards of quality (Moran et al ., 1970a) but also to have an organoleptically more desirable carcass (Larmond et al ., 1970). The maximum proportion of grade A carcasses and better eating quality as ascertained from the former and latter mentioned reports, respectively, were both attained when the secondary characteristics in the sexual maturation process became apparent. The concomitance of these improvements in carcass and consumer quality with the onset of sexual maturity was not considered to be a matter of coincidence but a necessary occurrence. The considerably smaller sized broiler-fryer type turkey is also highly dependent upon age in order for a large proportion of the carcasses to reach minimum market standards, however, in this instance the time necessary is known to be much shorter. By characterizing the broiler turkey…