Influence of Breed, Sex, and Age on Body Composition of Turkeys Reared in Southern Benin

Exotic turkey breeds generally exhibit superior growth performance compared to indigenous breeds in Benin. While local turkeys are recognized for their hardiness, they tend to demonstrate comparatively lower growth rates and have less well-documented carcass characteristics. The present study aimed to evaluate the body composition of the local turkey population reared in Southern Benin. Data were collected from 40 turkeys per breed (Exotic and local), totaling 80 turkeys. Each breed included 20 males and 20 females. The turkeys were divided into two age groups, including 7-month-old turkeys (Age-Group 1) and 9-month-old turkeys (Age-Group 2). Following a 24-hour hydrous diet, the turkeys were slaughtered by jugular vein, bled, scalded in water at 75°C, manually plucked, and the hot carcasses were weighed. Each carcass was cut to measure the weight of the wishbone, thigh and shank, wings, head, neck, gizzard, heart, liver, and legs. The current results indicated that the slaughter, hot carcass, and cold carcass weights of the exotic turkey were significantly higher than those of the local turkey. Additionally, male turkeys had notably higher slaughter, hot carcass, and cold carcass weights than females, regardless of breed. Furthermore, the live weight of turkeys at 7 months (3637 g) was significantly lower than at 9 months (4160.98 g). The weights of the breast, thigh, and tail cuts increased significantly as the turkeys aged. However, exceptions were observed in abdominal fat and specific parameters such as cold carcass yield, slaughter weight, and fifth-quarter components, including the heart, gizzard, head, and legs, which showed a positive correlation, especially in the exotic-type breeds. In contrast, no statistically significant correlation was observed between carcass yields at slaughter and abdominal fat in the exotic breed compared to the local breed. It might be beneficial to consider selecting or crossbreeding the local turkey population with more efficient exotic breeds to improve their overall body composition.