Turkeys for Meat Flashcards
what type of housing do these turkeys live in
- litter confinement housing
- brooding and rearing barns
- more frequent not all in all out
what same issues apply to meat turkeys
- light
- ammonia
- ventilation
what is the life cycle of a turkey
- day old poults go to turkey producers
- most meat turkeys are slaughtered before 12 weeks
- some are kept until 22 weeks, these ones are for processing if whole
why is turkey consumption per capita not increasing
- harder to cook then chicken
- more expensive
- a holiday bird
TF turkeys are less feed efficient than broilers
True
why do turkey producers need two barns
- one for young (smaller feeders and drinkers)
- one for older
- this is because they grow so big
are sexy raised seperatrly
yes
what is the diet of a turkey
- fed pellets or crumbles for fast growth
- need more nutrients than broilers, as they are growing bigger
- 5-6 diets
- gives less protein as bird ages, saves money for producers by having different diets
why should turkeys drink before eating
- they will forget to drink water and die
what needs to happen for birds to eat
- attract birds to feeders =, using shiny things/lights
- high light intensity for first week encourages feed
what type of bedding is best for turkeys
shaving, prevents leg deformities
what is wet litter influenced by
- nutrition
- drinker issue
- mister
- bird density
- diseases
- bad ventilation
- weather
what type of issue can wet litter caused by fecal matter
- enteritis
what is a breast button
- fluid filled blister
- caused by wet litter
how can high sodium in water be corrected
- lowering sodium levels in feed
why do we provide misters in poulltry systems
- cool off birds
- reduce dusyiness
what is the difference in pay between broiler producers and turkey producers
- broiler = paid by bird number and weights
- turkey = paid by weight and grading of their birds
how are turkeys downgraded
- wing damage = catching, long lairage times
- bruising
- scratching = toe trimming, handling
-blisters - breast buttons
what is toe treatment and who is it performed on
- infrared trimming of teo, reduces scratching in hens
- no difference in toms because they dont do this behaviour
what are negative effects of infrared toe trimming
- may cause some pain
- reduces balance
- infection can cause mortality
- rest more, stand less and walk less within first 3 days of treatment
TF turkeys have more bruising then chickens
T
what do the different bruises look like
- new are bright red
- old are purple and green
what should you do if there is nots of new bruises
- recheck catching and handling for slaughter
- can cut off bruise area but will effect the price
how can you tell if the bone was broken before death
- if there are blood clots
- you will see no blood clotting if break is after death
what can cause breast blisters/buttons
- trimming of breast skin and occasionally breast meat
- related to wet litter and exposure to ammonia
- can also be related to leg disorders or poor bird mobility (lighting program)
what is coccidiosis
protozoan infection, attacks and destroys intestine
- blood infeces
what is histomoniasis
- blackhead
- necrotic foci of the liver and ulceration of the caeca
- north american birds are susceptible
- transmission = caecal worms and earthworms are accessory hosts
- treatment = internal confinement housing / chemotherapy
what is PSE
pale soft exudative breast meat
- pale in colour
- low ph
- catn hold water
- rapid drop in ph and high muscle temerature
= stress and electrical stunning can cause PSE
how can you reduce pre slaughter stress
- improving transport conditions
- provide adequate rest period following transport
- provide proper lairage conditions
- minimising struggle during capture handling and hanging on the shackle line
- rapid chilling after death
how are turkeys put on a truck
they are walked on
