Growth of Turkeys.

STRAIN differences in mature weight and rate of growth are well known in chickens (Lerner and Asmundson, 1938, and others reviewed by Lerner, 1937). Existence of differences in the size and rate of growth in different varieties of turkeys are also indicated by the reports of Funk (1930) and others. Jaap (1938) has also reported sex and varietal differences in body weight and live measurements of turkeys. Most turkeys are marketed at six to eight months of age, although increases in body weight continue until 44 to 48 weeks of age (Asmundson and Jukes, 1939, p. 8). Since little is known about the growth of the muscles and skeleton of turkeys to market age an investigation was started to determine the factors influencing growth in the turkey. MATERIAL AND METHODS Two strains of Bronze turkeys were selected for this work, one considerably inbred and of medium size, designated strain A, . . .