PHENOTYPICAL CHARACTERISATION OF SOME ITALIAN TURKEY (Meleagris gallopavo) BREEDS.
S.P. Marelli1, E. Colombo1, M.G. Mangiagalli1, L. Zaniboni2, C. Cassinelli2, S. Cerolini2, L.
Guidobono Cavalchini1 1 Università degli Studi di Milano, Dipartimento di Scienze Animali DSA, Sez. Zootecnica Veterinaria, via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy 2 Università degli Studi di Milano, Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Veterinarie per la Sicurezza Alimentare, via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy Abstract: Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) genetic diversity is in danger both in meat production systems and in the wild where subspecies integrity is at risk. Product characterization and differentiation could be an effective strategy to supply economical support in pure breeds conservations strategies planning. Morphological traits are easily perceptible and could successfully be used in slow growing pure breeds turkey promotion policies. The aim of this research is to characterise through morphometrical analysis and linear scoring phenotypic traits of three traditional Italian turkey breeds. 27 birds have been measured, weighed and scored in two different farms (4 Nero d’Italia NI, 11 Brianzolo BI, 12 Euganei EU). Recorder traits have been: feather colour, beard presence, skin colour (L* a* b*), shank colour (L* a* b*), body weight, shank length, body length, keel length, shank girth. Body condition BC and breast muscles development (BMD) parallelism have been scored. Data have been analysed using SAS mean and GLM procedures. Feather colour is breed specific black NI, bronze/light bronze BI, bronze EU. Shank colour is bred specific in L*(BI=62.65, EU=48.06, NI=40.53), diet influence have been recorded; a* and b*differentiate NI from BI and EU birds. Weight: the heaviest breed is NI, sexual dimorphism has been recorded in all the breeds (8.35♂, 2.76♀ NI; 5.24♂, 3.17♀ BI; 4.09♂, 2.16♀ EU). BC and BMD do not vary among breeds (BC=1, BMD=1). Shank length, body length, keel length and shank girth vary according to the breed and the sex of the measured birds. Morphological and conformational differences have been investigated, further analysis are needed to determine selection strategies for breeds conservation and traditional breeds products differentiation. Keywords: Turkey breeds, morphometry, biodiversity, traditional products References: CEROLINI, S., CASSINELLI, C., MANGIAGALLI,M.G., GUIDOBONO CAVALCHINI, L., MARELLI, S., ZANIBONI, L. (2009) phenotipic characterization of the italian chicken breed Mericanel della Brianza., It. J An. Scie. 8 suppl 2: 809. GREGORY, N.G., ROBINS, J.K. (1998) A body condition scoring system for layer hens. New Zealand J. Agr. Res., 41: 555-559. KAMARA, D., GYENAI, K.B., GENG, T., HAMMADE, H., SMITH, E.J. (2007) Microsatellites marker-based genetic analysis of relatedness between commercial and heritage turkey (Meleagris gallopavo). Poul. Sci., 86: 46-49. MOCK, K.E., THEIMER, T.C., RHODES, O.E., GREENBERG, D.L., KEIM, P. (2002). Genetic variation across the historical range of the wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo). Mol. Ecol. 11: 643-657. NOZAKI, A., MAKITA, T., (1998) The surface color measurement of major tissues of Silky fowls and White Leghorns. J. Vet. Med. Sci., 60(4): 489-493. WOLANSKY, N.J., RENEMA, R.A., ROBINSON, F.E., CARNEY, V.L., FANCHERT, B.I. (2006) Relationship between chick conformation and quality measures with early growth traits in males eight selected pure or commercial broiler breeder strains. Poul. Sci., 85: 1490-1497.
PHENOTYPICAL CHARACTERISATION OF SOME
ITALIAN TURKEY (Meleagris gallopavo) BREEDSS.P. Marelli1, E. Colombo1, M.G. Mangiagalli1, L. Zaniboni2, C. Cassinelli2, S. Cerolini2, L. Guidobono Cavalchini1
1 Università degli Studi di Milano, Dipartimento di Scienze Animali DSA, Sez. Zootecnica Veterinaria, via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy
2 Università degli Studi di Milano, Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Veterinarie per la Sicurezza Alimentare, via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy
Introduction
Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) genetic
diversity is in danger both in meat production
systems (Kamara et al., 2007) and in the wild
where subspecies integrity is at risk (Mock et
al., 2002). Product characterization and
differentiation could be an effective strategy
to supply economical support to pure breeds
conservation strategies and planning.
Morphological traits are easily observed and
could successfully be used in slow growing
pure breed turkey promotion policies.
Aim
The aim of this research is to characterise
through morphometrical analysis and linear
scoring phenotypic traits of three traditional
Italian turkey breeds.
Materials & Methods
27 birds have been measured, weighed
and scored in two different farms (4 Nero
d’Italia NI, 11 Brianzolo BI, 12 Euganei EU).
Recorded traits were: feather colour, beard
presence, skin colour (L*, a*, b*), shank
colour (L*, a*, b*), body weight, shank
length, body length, keel length, shank
girth. Body condition BC and breast muscle
development (BMD) were scored. Data
have been analysed using SAS Mean and
GLM procedures.
Results and discussion
Feather colour is breed specific: black NI,
bronze/light bronze BI, bronze EU. Shank
colour is breed specific in L*(BI=62.65,
EU=48.06, NI=40.53) and diet effects were
recorded; a* and b* differentiate NI from BI
and EU birds. The heaviest breed is NI and
sexual dimorphism was recorded (kg) in all
the breeds (8.35♂, 2.76♀ NI; 5.24♂, 3.17♀ BI;
4.09♂, 2.16♀ EU). BC and BMD mean scores
did not vary among breeds (BC=1, BMD=1).
Shank length, body length, keel length and
shank girth vary according to the breed and
the sex of the measured birds.
Conclusions
Morphological and conformational
differences have been investigated and
further analyses are needed to determine
selection strategies for breed conservation
and traditional breed product
differentiation.
CEROLINI, S., CASSINELLI, C., MANGIAGALLI, M.G., GUIDOBONOCAVALCHINI, L., MARELLI, S., ZANIBONI, L. (2009) Phenotipic
characterization of the Italian chicken breed Mericanel della Brianza.,It. J. An. Scie. 8 suppl 2: 809. GREGORY, N.G., ROBINS, J.K. (1998) A body
condition scoring system for layer hens. New Zealand J. Agr. Res., 41:555-559. KAMARA, D., GYENAI, K.B., GENG, T., HAMMADE, H., SMITH, E.J.(2007) Microsatellites marker-based genetic analysis of relatedness
between commercial and heritage turkey (Meleagris gallopavo). Poul.Sci., 86: 46-49. MOCK, K.E., THEIMER, T.C., RHODES, O.E., GREENBERG,
D.L., KEIM, P. (2002). Genetic variation across the historical range of thewild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo). Mol. Ecol. 11: 643-657. NOZAKI, A.,
MAKITA, T., (1998) The surface color measurement of major tissues ofSilky fowls and White Leghorns. J. Vet. Med. Sci., 60(4): 489-493.
WOLANSKY, N.J., RENEMA, R.A., ROBINSON, F.E., CARNEY, V.L.,FANCHERT, B.I. (2006) Relationship between chick conformation and
quality measures with early growth traits in males eight selected pure orcommercial broiler breeder strains. Poul. Sci., 85: 1490-1497.
Colli Euganei
Brianzolo
Nero d’Italia
14.45 13.73
15.8
12.1511.08 11.15
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Brianzolo Colli Euganei Nero d'Italia
cm
Shank lenght
mf
P < 0.01
9688
103
78.573
78
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Brianzolo ColliEuganei
Nerod'Italia
cm
Body lenght
mf
P < 0.06
16
13
18
11 10.511.5
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Brianzolo ColliEuganei
Nerod'Italia
cm
Keel lenght
mf
P < 0.01
5 5
7
3.5
4.55
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Brianzolo ColliEuganei
Nerod'Italia
cm
Shank girth
mf
P < 0.05
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
L* a* b*
Skin L*a*b*
BrianzoloColli EuganeiNero d'ItaliaP<0.05
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
L* a* b*
Shank L*a*b*
BrianzoloColli EuganeiNero d'Italia
P < 0.001
P < 0.05P < 0.01
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
M F
Kg
Sex
Weight by sex
Brianzolo
Colli Euganei
Nero d'Italia
P < 0.05
Skin Colour
Nero d’Italia