Contents
Turkeys have always been bred by the inhabitants of the Old World. Therefore, the bird is symbolized with the USA and Canada. After the turkeys began their “journey” around the world, their appearance has changed a lot. Many breeds have been bred by breeders from different countries.
Turkeys have been bred in Our Country for a long time. But poultry farmers did not always get the desired result. Most often it was underweight birds or death from various diseases. Breeders have always strived to get a breed that would be the best in every way.
History of breeding
After crossing, they received a new branch of turkeys. Grown for several years and observed the hybrids. The North Caucasian breed was registered in 1964.
The resulting birds have become popular with wildlife lovers due to their unpretentiousness, both in terms of keeping conditions and feeding.
Advantages of the North Caucasian breed
Let’s name the most important advantages:
- Every year, one female carries from 100 to 120 eggs: a turkey herd can be replenished in a year.
- Females have a developed maternal instinct. They will never leave the nest with masonry, they are able to incubate the eggs of any representative of the bird farm.
- Caucasians have a wide chest, so white meat in the carcass is about 25% of the weight.
- North Caucasian turkeys weigh on average 12 to 15 kilograms. The weight of the turkey is slightly lower – from 8 to 10 kilograms. Young animals with proper feeding at 3-3,5 weeks can weigh about 4 kilograms.
Two new breeds of turkeys were bred, each of them has a number of distinctive features:
- North Caucasian bronze;
- North Caucasian silver.
North Caucasian bronze rock
A new breed of bronze turkey was bred in 1946 in the Stavropol Territory. They crossed a female of a local breed and a broad-breasted bronze turkey. Birds of a new breed, obtained by scientists from Pyatigorsk, began to be bred in the southern regions of Our Country, in the north of the Caucasus. The turkey was widely used by poultry farmers of the Central Asian republics. Bronze turkeys came to the liking of the inhabitants of Germany and Bulgaria. Adults and poults were exported to these countries.
Description
The name was approved ten years later. Bronze turkeys have a slightly elongated body, deep chest, strong long legs. Although the birds are small in size, males weigh up to 15 kg, females no more than 8 kg. Turkey poults can usually weigh about 4 kg at the age of three weeks.
The feathers of birds are bronze, in the light with a greenish and golden tint. Bronze is most of all in the tail unit, on the lower back and back. The turkey’s tail itself is chic: dark brown stripes on a black matte background. The turkey is smaller than the male, it is distinguished by growths under the beak. There are a lot of feathers on her neck, but she was not lucky with her hair, there are almost no feathers. Also, the turkey breast is greyish because the edges of the feathers are edged with white.
Features of survival
North Caucasian bronze turkeys are adapted to pasture feeding. They do well in various climatic conditions.
Turkeys lay eggs weighing up to 80 grams. At least 80 pieces per year. Egg production occurs at the age of 9 months. The eggs are light yellow, with a brown speck. 90 percent are fertilized. Of the eggs placed under the turkey, the marketable yield of turkey poults is at least 70%.
In addition, with the help of a turkey, local breeds of birds are modified.
If we talk about the shortcomings, then it refers to the bluish-purple color of the carcass of young animals. It is for this reason that it is not recommended to slaughter young birds.
Turkeys North Caucasian silver
When breeding turkeys, the main focus has always been to obtain a large amount of meat and an interesting plumage color. North Caucasian silver turkeys meet this standard.
Who are the parents of the breed
As such, the breeders had genetic material. Now it was necessary to select the necessary copies so that they fully fit into the following requirements:
- They had high productivity.
- They could survive in any, even limited spaces.
- Have a decorative, different from other breeds, plumage colors.
- Have a host of other advantages that other competitors do not have.
But the main thing is to transfer positive properties over several generations of turkeys. In a word, the signs of the breed should be dominant.
Breed description
Turkeys belonging to the North Caucasian silver breed are distinguished by a wide, protruding chest, a wide, sloping back. The wings are well developed. Coral legs in turkeys are strong, strong.
The tail is luxurious, rather long. When it is fanned out, you can admire the silvery-white plumage with beautiful stripes of black and fawn. The head is small, neat, but the turkey was not lucky with the hairstyle: the feather cover is insignificant.
Live weight of turkeys:
- A turkey at 4 months – 3,5-5,2 kg.
- Adult turkeys up to 7 kg.
- Turkeys up to 16 kg.
Adulthood occurs at 40 weeks. The female begins to lay eggs. The bird is prolific, so from one individual you can get up to 120 eggs per year weighing 80-100 grams.
Reproduction
Eggs are white, brown with a speck. The fertility of eggs is excellent – up to 95%. Of these, as a rule, 75% of turkeys hatch.
The percentage of obtaining turkey offspring is almost the same.
Turkeys of the North Caucasian silver breed are excellent mothers. They can hatch not only their own eggs, but also chicken, duck, goose. With special trepidation, they look after any offspring.
Advantages
- The breed is valued not only for large eggs, but also for valuable meat. The yield is typically 44,5-58%. Most of all falls on white meat – brisket.
- Parents are able to pass on dominant traits to offspring for eight generations: the genetic code is stable and reliable.
- The vitality of birds can be envied.
Conclusion
When the breeders of the North Caucasus started breeding new breeds of turkeys, they took into account the needs of individual farms. Today, such birds are grown on an industrial scale, providing s with healthy and tasty meat.