Differentiation in poult plumage colour of f1 progeny from crosses between white and black indigenous turkeys


 A study assessed the poult plumage colour of F1 progeny from artificially inseminated crossings between white and black indigenous turkeys. 72 hens (32 black, 40 white) and 10 toms were used (five black and five white). The turkeys were grouped into four treatments based on the breeding plans: T1 (White toms X White hens), T2 (Black toms X Black hens), T3 (White toms X black hens), and T4 (Black toms X White hens). Semen was harvested from five white toms, pooled, and inseminated into hens in T1 and T3. Semen harvested from five black toms were also pooled and inseminated into hens in T2 and T4. All inseminations were carried out immediately after collection, and each hen received a dose of 0.02ml. Insemination was done for two consecutive days in week 1 and once weekly; eggs were collected and incubated weekly for twelve weeks. Poult plumage colours were monitored and recorded weekly after the first 28 days. Average fertility in each of the treatments 1 (99.63%), 2 (99.81%), 3 (99.84%) and 4 (99.27%) were not significantly (P > 0.05) different among the treatments. Hatchability was highest in T2 (72.54%) and least in T1 (57.67%). Percentage white plumage poults in treatments 1, 2, 3 and 4 were 88.73%, 31.61%, 58.15% and 54.63%, respectively. Percentage black plumage poults in T1, T2, T3, and T4 were 6.97%, 33.04%, 15.26%, and 23.76%, respectively, while 4.30%, 35.35%, 26.57%, and 21.61% were percentage checkered plumage poults in T1, T2, T3, and T4, respectively. There was no significant (P > 0.05) difference in the percentage checkered obtained in T2, T3, and T4; percentage of white poult in T3 and T4; percentage of black poult in T3 and T1. The major determinant of poult plumage colour concerning quantity was the plumage colour of breeder tom semen used for insemination.