Productive and population-genetic indicators of turkeys of new gene pool

Abstract

In order to assess the turkey populations of the new gene pool of SGC
“North Caucasus ZESP” – branch of the Federal Scientific Center “ARRTPI” RAS of the
Stavropol Territory, in 2020-2021, a study of productive qualities and a population-genetic
blood test of turkeys were carried out for the first time. Turkey poults of the 607 population
group had the greatest live weight at a one-day-old age – 55.4 g. The tendency continued by
the age of 16 weeks: the weight of females was equal to 4.00 kg, males – 5.28 kg with breast
fleshing of 4.58 and 4.46 points, respectively. The live weight of females of group 607 at the
beginning of egg laying was 6.90 kg, in group 602 – 6.10 kg. The intensity of egg laying in
group 602 was at the level of 41.07%, in group 607 – 39.17%. The yield of hatching eggs during the period was also the maximum among the populations: in 602 group – 86.7%, in 607
group – 87.4%. DNA fingerprinting of turkeys` blood emphasized their population status:
groups 602 and 607, according to the criterion of average heterozygosity, were characterized
by high values of H = 0.54 and 0.56, respectively. The results of the DNA test confirmed the
reliability of the origin and the absence of genetic abnormalities of the new gene pool of turkeys.