COMPATIBILITY OF LINES IN TURKEYS OF VICTORIA CROSS

Abstract

An increase in the organic turkey meat production of domestic breeding is relevant at the present stage, so the aim of the research was to improve the lines of the Victoria Cross to get hybrid turkey-poults with high live weight at slaughter age. Adult turkeys and hybrid turkey-poults from the crossing of the main and reserve lines of the Victoria Cross have become the material for research. The studies were carried out in the Selection Genetic Center of the “North Zonal Experimental Station of the Poultry” located in the village of Obilnoye, Georgievsky District, Stavropol Territory, in 2018. The initial material was estimated at 30 weeks of age by live weight and origin, by reproductive qualities for the breeding season. The optimal combinations of lines were revealed while improving the Victoria Cross. With the live weight in turkey-hens of the K₁ line at the level of 7,95-8,00 kg, preservation over the laying period was 98%, the yield of hatching eggs was at the level of 88,82-88,80%, the output of turkey-poults in group 1 exceeded the level of group 2 by 0,30%. The obtained data allow us to conclude that higher reproductive qualities were observed in turkey-cocks breeding systems of the line VI on turkey-hens of the K₁ line. The productivity evaluation of the young in the two experimental groups was carried out. The live weight of turkey-hens at 20 weeks in group 1 was higher by 2,35%; it was higher in turkey-cocks at 22 weeks by 5,92%, respectively. In terms of meat quality at the age of 20 weeks in turkey-hens in group 1, it was noted that the muscle weight of the chest, thigh and tibia exceeds by 2,04; 2,52 and 2,58% similar indices of the 2^nd group. The muscle weight on the muscle yield of the chest, thigh and tibia parts exceeds the anatomical indices in group 2 by 6,70; 7,61 and 5,35%. Based on these data, we can conclude about the best combination of the paternal line VI and the maternal K₁ line in getting of hybrid turkey-poults, as well as on the preparation of breeding material for further work on improving turkeys of the Victoria Cross.