Poultry turkey farming

Turkey occupies an important position next to chicken, duck. Guinea fowl and quail in contributing the most evolving sector, which is playing a significant role in augmenting the economic and nutritional status of varied population. They form almost two percent of the total poultry population. They are reared for meat only and its meat is the leanest among other domestic avian species.

Turkeys are mostly concentrated in and around cosmopolitan cities of India in small numbers. Indigenous and non-descriptive turkeys are found in good numbers in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, eastern districts of Uttar Pradesh and some other parts of India.

To devolve a turkey farming, we should concentrate on few basic thing. Bellow basic factors will help us to have a basic idea about them.

The main thing we need to concentrate are

Selection of breeds:

There are several turkey breeds available around the globe. But all those breeds are not suitable enough for commercial meat production. You can raise only a few of those breeds in your farm for profitable meat production. For profitable meat production you have to use some modern turkey breeds that are raised for commercial production. This type of turkey breeds has a maximum feed to meat conversion rate. They consume less feed and convert this feed to meat within a very short time. Broad-breasted White is such a modern turkey breed for commercial production. The meat produced by raising this breed on pasture on a small farm, it will be more tasty and favorful than the meat produced from commercial farm. White Holland and Standard Bronze are other two popular meat producing turkey breed. This two breeds are not actual breed. Broad-Breasted Bronze and Whites are just non-standardized commercial strain used for meat production (they are not actual breed). Along with this there are some other breeds available that are beautiful and different looking birds. Bourbon Reds, Narragansetts, Royal Palm etc. are such turkey breed. For commercial meat production, you should go with Broad-Breasted Whites, Standard Bronze and White, White Hollands etc.

Infrastructure:

Good housing with all types of essential facilities available is very necessary for commercial turkey production. In this regard, you have to make a permanent house like chicken house and ensure availability of all necessary facilities. For fencing, make the fence as high as possible. Turkeys are large in size and become very strong. So, the fencing must have to strong enough to protect the birds. You can use electric poultry netting, woven wire fencing, metal T-posts or wooden posts. However, while making housing and fencing for turkeys, keep in mind the followings.

·         You must have to make proper protection from all types of predators and harmful animals.

·         Ensure availability of sufficient space inside the house. Generally, 75 feet * 75 feet space is suitable for accommodating for up to 12 birds.

·         Never let the turkeys to graze in the pasture until they reach grazing age.

·         Using wooden litter is very effective for turkey farming.

·         Make sure sufficient flow of fresh air and light inside the house.

·         Make proper ventilation system.

·         Make the house suitable enough for cleaning it regularly.

·         In case of fencing, make it as high as possible. The fencing must have to be at least four feet above the ground.

·         The turkeys far very strong and big than other birds. So, make the fencing with strong materials.

Feeding:

The general management conditions remain more or less same as that for chicken. But due allowance should be given with regard to water, feeder and floor space to accommodate the size of birds. Due care should be taken at the time of brooding. As a rule of thumb turkey poults require, double the space compared to chicken. Turkey poults are also not self-reliant like chicken and hence should be guarded in the beginning. Poults need to be force-fed for the first few days. Feed must be kept under bright light. Sometimes it may be necessary to put coloured marbles in feed and water to attract the turkey poults. Temperament is usually nervous and hence turkeys get panicky at all stages of life. Therefore, due care must be taken to prevent heavy loss. 

• ·         As readymade feed for turkey is not available in the market, ready made broiler feed is given, as turkeys need high protein diet.
• ·         The average feed requirement ranges from 20 to 25 Kg. per bird up to Six months of age. The feed requirement for the male birds is more than the females as the males are heavier to females. The feed requirement is less where the farmers were feeding some amount of chopped green grasses.
• ·         Nutrient requirement of turkeys differ from that of chicken. Turkeys require more of protein, mineral and vitamins than chicken to meet the fast growth. Turkey rations are costlier than chicken rations.

      Feeding and Feed requirement:

Turkey requires higher amount of protein, amino acids, vitamins, minerals as compared to chicken.

Nutrient	Age (weeks)						Breeding Hen
	0 - 4	4 - 8	8 - 12	12 - 16	16 - 20	20 - 24
ME (Kcal/kg)	2800	2900	3000	3100	3200	3300	2900
Protein (%)	28	26	22	19	16.5	14	14
Lysin (%)	1.6	1.5	1.3	1.0	0.80	0.65	0.60
Methionine(%)	0.55	0.45	0.40	0.35	0.25	0.25	0.20
Methionine	1.05	0.95	0.80	0.65	0.55	0.45	0.40

Maintaining energy level as specified by NRC is not feasible under Indian conditions, 10% less of all nutrients specified by NRC can be followed under Indian conditions. Readymade feed for turkeys are not available in the market, however the birds can be reared on broiler feed with additional amount of protein source.

• ·         Use properly designed feeders and control the rats to avoid feed wastage.
• ·         Keep proper records on feed consumption per bird for each batch. 

Management Practices in turkey: 

Incubation:

The incubation period is 28 days in turkey. There are two methods of incubation.

1)     Natural incubation with broody hens:

Naturally turkeys are good brooders and the broody hen can hatch 10-15 numbers of eggs. Only clean eggs with good eggshell and shape should be placed for brooding to get 60-80% hatchability and healthy poults.

1)     Artificial Incubation:

In artificial incubation, eggs are hatched with the help of incubators. The temperature and relative humidity in setter and hatcher are as follows:

emperature (Degree F)	Relative humidity (%)
Setter 99.5	61-63
Hatcher 99.5	85-90

Egg should be turned at hourly intervals daily. Eggs should be collected frequently to prevent soiling and breakage and also to get better hatchability.

Brooding:

In turkey 0-4 weeks period is called as brooding period. However, in winter brooding period is extended upto 5-6 weeks. As a thumb rule the turkey poults need double hover space as compared to chicken. Brooding day old poults can be done using infra red bulbs or gas brooder and traditional brooding systems.

Points to be noted during brooding:

·         The floor space requirement for 0-4 weeks is 1.5 sq.ft. per bird.

·         The brooder house should be made ready atleast two days before the arrival of poults.

·         The litter material should be spread in a circular manner with a diameter of 2 mtrs.

·         Poult guard of atleast 1 feet height must be provided to prevent the poults from wandering away from source of heat.

·         Starting temperature is 95⁰F followed by weekly reduction of 5⁰F per week upto 4 weeks of age

·         Shallow waterers should be used.

Turkeys are not the best starters in their life and will really need some tender loving care to get them safely through the first four weeks of life. The average mortality rate is 6-10% during this period. Young poults by nature are reluctant to eat and drink in the first few days of life, primarily because of bad eyesight and nervousness. Hence, they have to be force fed.

Force Feeding:

Starve out problem is one of the major factors for early mortality in poults. So special care has to be taken for supplying feed and water. In force feeding, milk should be fed at the rate of 100ml per liter of water and one boiled egg have to be given at the rate of one per 10 poults up to fifteen days and that will compensate the protein and energy requirements of the poults.

Poults can be attracted to the feed by gentle tapping of the container with the fingers. Colored marbles or pebbles placed in feeders and waterers will also attract poults towards them. Since turkeys are fond of greens, some chopped green leaves should also be added to the feed to improve the feed intake. Also colored egg fillers can be used for the first 2 days as feeders.

Litter materials:

The common litter materials used for brooding are wood shavings saw dust, paddy husk, chopped saw etc. The thickness of the litter material should be 2 inch at the beginning and may be increased to 3-4 inch in course of time by gradual addition. The litter should be raked at frequent intervals to prevent caking.

Rearing systems:

Turkeys can be reared under free range or intensive system.

Free range system of rearing:

Advantages:

• ·         It reduces the feed cost by fifty percent.
• ·         Low investment.
• ·         Cost benefit ratio is high.

In the free range system, in one acre of fenced land we can rear 200-250 adult turkeys. Shelter should be provided during night at the rate of 3-4 sq.ft. per bird. They should be protected from predators during scavenging. Planting of trees is desirable for providing shade and cooler environment. The range should be rotated which will help to reduce incidence of parasite infestation.

Free range feeding:

Since turkeys are very good scavengers, it can consume earthworms, small insects, snails, kitchen waste and termites, which are rich in protein and that will reduce the feed cost by fifty percent. Apart from this leguminous fodder like Lucerne, Desmanthus, Stylo etc., can be fed. To avoid leg weakness and lameness in free ranging birds, calcium should be supplemented at the rate of 250gm per week per bird in the form of oyster shell. Ten percent of feed can be substituted with vegetable waste to reduce the cost of feed.

Marketing:

In commercial turkey farming, the birds become suitable for marketing within 12 to 20 weeks. Sell all the birds when they reach the slaughtering age.

·         The demand for turkey poult is mostly seasonal especially during Christmas, Dipawali and New year.

• The demand for the birds is slowly picking up for Biryani making
• There is no established market for the turkey
• As the average weight of the bird is more (6 to 8 Kg.) it is not finding a place in the daily diet of middle class family, who usually prefers broilers
• Most of the birds are lifted from the farm by the traders and are sold in the near by states.

Turkey farming business is really very lucrative and enjoyable. If you are thinking about setting up commercial turkey farming business, then try to learn more about them and visit many turkey farms.