Hostname: page-component-7479d7b7d-jwnkl Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-13T03:41:03.704Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Development of shape in turkey carcasses

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

H. J. Swatland
H. J. Swatland
Affiliation:
Department of Animal and Poultry ScienceUniversity of GuelphGuelphOntario, Canada
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Forty-four turkeys including both sexes of two genetic strains were drawn at mean weight-for-age at 2 week intervals from a flock of 380 birds from hatching to 20 weeks post-hatching. Birds were dissected and linear measurements of skeletal units and breast dimensions were compared with keel length using the logarithmic form of Huxley's allometric growth equation. Live weights and weights of selected muscles were similarly compared with breast muscle weight. Wing bones and the biceps brachii muscle grew at approximately the same rate as keel length and breast muscle, respectively. However, leg bones and semitendinosus and gastrocnemius muscles exhibited slower growth than the breast region. Growth of maximum breast length and width was closely matched to keel length but growth in keel depth was much slower. The desirable convexity in breast shape lateral to the keel was considered to be directly proportional to maximum meat depth over the sternum and inversely proportional to keel depth. Maximum meat depth increased at a faster rate than either keel length or depth.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 93 , Issue 1 , August 1979 , pp. 1 - 6
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1979

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Asmundson, V. S. & Lerner, I. M. (1942). Growth of turkeys. II. Relative growth of the tarsometatarsus. Poultry Science 21, 505–510.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boorman, K. N. & Wilson, B. J. (1977). Growth and Poultry Meat Production. Proceedings of the Twelfth Poultry Science Symposium, 1976. British Poultry Science Ltd. Edinburgh: Longman Group Limited (Journals Division).Google Scholar
Hartung, T. E. & Froning, G. W. (1968). Variation of physical components of turkey carcasses as influenced by sex, age and strain. Poultry Science 47, 1348–1355.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Holroyd, P. H. (1977). The requirement of the retailer and consumer. In Growth and Poultry Meat Production (ed. Boorman, K. N. and Wilson, B. J.), pp. 341–350. Proceedings of the Twelfth Poultry Science Symposium, 1976. British Poultry Science Ltd. Edinburgh: Longman Group Limited (Journals Division).Google Scholar
Huxley, J. S. (1932). Problems of Relative Growth. London: Methuen & Co.Google Scholar
Johnson, A. S. & Asmundson, V. S. (1957). Genetic and environmental factors affecting size of body and body parts of turkeys. 2. The relation of body weight and certain body measurements to pectoral and tibial muscle weights. Poultry Science 36, 959–966.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moran, E. T. (1977). Growth and meat yield in poultry. In Growth and Poultry Meat Production, (ed. Boorman, K. N. and Wilson, B. J.), pp. 145–173. Proceedings of the Twelfth Poultry Science Symposium, 1976. British Poultry Science Ltd. Edinburgh: Longman Group Limited (Journals Division).Google Scholar
Stiles, P. G. & Brant, A. W. (1971). Physical measurement interrelationships of turkeys used in further processing. Poultry Science 50, 392–396.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilson, B. J. (1977). Growth curves: their analysis and use. In Growth and Poultry Meat Production (ed. Boorman, K. N. and Wilson, B. J.), pp. 89–115. Proceedings of the Twelfth Poultry Science Symposium, 1976. British Poultry Science Ltd. Edinburgh: Longman Group Limited (Journals Division).Google Scholar