Reproductive Efficiency of Selected F1 Crossbred Turkey (Nigeria Indigenous Turkey x Exotic Turkey) at the Mid Stage of Production
Adedeji Suleimon Balogun1*, Tawheed Ahmed Shafi2, Adetoun Janet Ajibade3, Kehinde Isreal Adeyemo1, Bisola Barakat Hammed 1
1Department of Animal Health and Production Technology, Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora.Oyo State. Nigeria
2College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Maharashtra Animal Fishery Sciences University, Parbhani, India
3Department of Agricultural Technology, Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora.Oyo State. Nigeria
Submitted: 03-08-2025; Accepted: 23-12-2025; Published: 31-12-2025
Abstract
Stages of production in life cycle of turkey has a great impact on their reproductive efficiency. This experiment is designed to evaluate the fertility and hatchability potential of selected Nigeria F1 crossbred turkey hens to determine if they are fit to create a base population for breeding plan. Crossbred Poults were brooded and reared from day old to reproduction stage. Only seven turkeys among the reared poults were identified as viable hens among the hens while the remaining population were curled. Hens are housed individually in each cell in a battery cage system. 180g of feeds was fed to hens at laying stage and 250g of feeds were fed to each tom. Ejaculates were collected from two viable toms and pooled for artificial insemination of the hens. Artificial insemination was done twice/week in the evening. The total number of eggs laid/hen/week, number of fertile eggs, hatch chicks and their percentage were recorded over a period 8weeks (38wks- 46wks). The result shows no significant different (p<0.05) among the hens on the number of eggs set/week, number of fertile egg/week and percentage of fertile and infertile eggs/week. In contrast, significant different (p<0.05) was observed for hatchability among the hens, while hen 12 has the lowest significant (p<0.05) percentage hatchability of eggs set and fertile eggs value compared to other hens. It is therefore concluded that the selected Nigeria F1 hybrid turkey hens exhibited good fertility and hatchability fit for production of base population for genetic improvement program in Nigeria Indigenous turkey.
Keywords: F1 Hybrid, Fertility, Hatchability, Mid Stage, Turkey hen
Full length article *Corresponding Author, e-mail: balogunadedeji001@gmail.com, doi# 10.71111/Science today/2-25-3-3-st-2