Variation in Body Weight and Biometric Traits of Exotic (Nicholas White) and Nigerian Locally Adapted Turkeys Reared in Humid Tropics

The performance of animal in a given environment differs between and within species, breeds strains genotypes, as result genetic variation. A total 200 turkeys comprising 50 exotic (Nicholas white) each Nigerian locally adapted (black, white lavender) was used to investigate variation body weight some biometric traits turkey at the Turkey Breeding unit Teaching Research Farm Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma Edo State, Nigeria. growth experimental birds recorded biweekly throughout period experiment. Genotype had significant effect (p<0.05) on all weeks with consistently having higher black plumage colour performed better than other two colours but not (p>0.05). Similarly, has highest length, height, wing span thigh length most Among turkeys, measured lavender turkeys. can be upgrade obtain tropically broiler breed also selection preferential should local for improvement.