EFFECT OF IMPROVED FEEDING AND ARTIFICIAL BREEDING ON TURKEY (Meleagris gallopavo) PRODUCTION IN BANGLADESH

Abstract

A baseline study investigated the major challenges faced by the farmers of Bangladesh were inadequate knowledge and skill on improved feeding and breeding in turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) production. As a result, farmers got low fertility (≤50%), hatchability (≤32%) growth performance and feed efficiency. On the basis of the baseline study, total four experiments were conducted to develop an innovative and cost effective technological package with improved feeding and artificial breeding for turkey farmers. All of the experiments were conducted at the Advanced Avian Research Farm of the Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Science, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, Bangladesh. Experimental birds were maintained under intensive system with similar management. The experiments were conducted under completely randomized design (CRD), and data were analyzed by one way ANOVA. The 1st experiment was carried out to test the hypothesis that a certain percent of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) could be used to replace expensive concentrate feed for economic turkey production. Live weight gain (22 g/d), feed efficiency (3.18) and profitability (76.80%) was resulted significantly (P<0.01) better in the group of turkey where 25% concentrate feed was replaced by Napier grass. The 2nd experiment investigated the utilization of maize and sesbania sprouted hydroponic fodder for economic turkey production. Higher live weight gain (21 g/d), the best feed efficiency (4.03) and profitability (55.31%) were observed in the group of turkeys fed hydroponic fodder in combination with maize (80%) and sesbania (20%) by replacing 10% concentrate feed. The 3rd experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on growth performance and carcass characteristics of turkeys. The results revealed that 1–2% dietary yeast would be used as a natural growth promoter for turkey production. The 4th experiment was conducted to compare the efficiency of reproductive performance of turkey hen bred by natural mating and artificial insemination using fresh as well as chilled semen. Natural mating was performed by maintaining male-female ratio as ♂:♀=1:4, where artificial insemination was applied using fresh semen (0.02 ml/hen) and chilled semen (0.20 ml/hen). Significantly (P<0.01) highest fertility (89.71%) was obtained when the turkey hens were inseminated with fresh semen compared to chilled semen (60.77%) and even though natural mating (59.21%). Profitability (111.81%) was also highest (P<0.05) in the turkey hens inseminated by fresh semen. Finally, the study concluded that turkey production was at infantile stage, which needed more support. Napier grass, hydroponic fodder in combination with maize and sesbania, and yeast would be used for better growth performance. Artificial insemination with fresh semen could be promoted for better fertility to develop a profitable and sustainable turkey farming in Bangladesh.