Origin of turkey. Turkey (poultry): photo

Indeks on private farmsteads are bred less often than chickens and ducks. However, they are at the moment a very popular bird. Of course, many summer residents are concerned with the question of how the turkey was domesticated, as well as the currently available varieties. The breed of this bird actually exists a lot.

Origin of the turkey

The ancestors of these modern domesticated birds were wild individuals living in Africa, Mexico and North America. In the majority it is very large turkeys with long legs, short wings and tail. They were named for the same reason as the American Indians. Even in our time, wild individuals are considered commercial birds and are extracted for the sake of delicious meat. Initially, these birds were brought to Spain (in 1519) from America. Therefore very often they are called "Spanish chickens".

Ancient Turkeys

Thus, the American and African origin of the turkey does not cause doubts. But when did they first tame these birds? Recently, scientists from the USA and Canada conducted a study of the DNA of the bones of turkeys found on the site of archaeological excavations dating back to the 2nd millennium BC. E. And ending with the 18th century. As a result, it was revealed that for the first time they were domesticated as far back as 800-100 years. BC. E. The bones of these birds are found in the territory of ancient settlements in Mexico and Nicaragua. Also scientists came to the conclusion that many of their breeds were excreted in Central and South America independently of each other.

Wild turkeys: description

The progenitors of this poultry lay about 20 eggs each, and do it right on the ground. An interesting feature of such a bird as a wild turkey (photo below) is that males sometimes abut the herd of domestic animals. In this case, a very viable and enduring offspring is obtained.

So, we found out the origin of the turkey. Further, let us consider what features characterize the most popular varieties of these domestic birds.

White broad-chested

This kind of turkey was bred in the US in the 60's. The original breeds were white Dutch and bronze broad-chested. To us in the country these turkeys were delivered in 1970 from the English farm "River-Rest". On the basis of a white broad-chested, three crosses were obtained: medium, light and heavy. The latter at the age of 13 weeks can weigh about 5.2 kg. The body weight of the average comes to 4.1 kg, and the lung to 3.5 kg. Adult turkeys of heavy cross-country can weigh 20-25 kg, turkeys - 11 kg. The average, respectively, 15-17 kg and 6-7 kg, in the lung 9 kg and 5.5 kg. From one turkey it is possible to get 80-90 pieces per year.

Cross Big 6

This is one of the most popular breeds at the moment. Its main advantages are early maturity, high weight and very good ability to reproduce. Big-6 (turkey) - a bird, bred on farms in England. Males of this cross can gain weight up to 22-25 kg, and females up to 11 kg. Both of them differ in white coloration with a black bun on their chest. A distinctive feature of this breed is that thirty percent of the body weight of the birds falls on the breast. Turkeys stop growing at the age of 90-100 days. By this time they are completely ready for slaughter.

Breed wagon

These birds are well muscled and white plumage. Adult turkeys weigh 6.5 kg, and females weigh 4.76 kg. One layer can sit and feed up to 61 turkeys. The popularity of the station wagon was not won by farmers because it is rapidly gaining weight - it makes it slower than many other crosses - but because it does not require artificial insemination to remove chicks. The cross is two-line, obtained from the crossing of males V2 with females V1. It was bred by the North-Caucasian ZOSP.

Bronze broad-chested

The popularity of turkey chickens in this breed is primarily due to their large weight. In males, it can reach 15-18 kg, in females 10-11 kg. There are cases when the weight of birds of this breed reached 30 kg. However, to grow such a turkey, of course, not everyone will succeed. To achieve this result, you just need to spend a huge amount of feed.

Another quality that makes such a bird as a bronze broad-chested turkey (photo below), popular with farmers, is high egg production - up to 120 pcs. in year. Of these, more than 80% of eggs are fertilized. At the same time, the yield of young on incubation is 70-75%. The turkeys of this breed are distinguished by their remarkable maternal qualities. Sometimes they are even chicken, goose or duck eggs.

What is the origin of the turkey of this remarkable breed? They brought out a bronze broad-chested in America. Parental breeds were black English and American turkeys.

Moscow white

This is a Russian turkey - a bird, bred by the state farm "Berezki" MO by crossing Dutch, Moscow's bronze and local white turkeys. Its main advantages are high egg-laying, tasty meat and a neat appearance of the carcass. The weight of males can reach 12.5 kg, females - 7 kg. While this breed in our country is not too widespread and is used mainly as a gene pool for the creation of high-performance crosses.

North Caucasian breed

There are only three directions of this breed - silver, bronze and white. The first weight is different. Silvery North Caucasian males can increase their body weight to 15 kg, turkeys - up to 7 kg. White birds reach a weight of 12 and 7 kg, respectively, and bronze - 14 and 8 kg.

Tikhoretskaya black

This species was bred in the Krasnodar region by a long selection of local black turkeys. It was first described in 1958. Plumage in turkeys is black, but the physique is strong. These are very active birds, besides pasture breeding, adapted to cell cultivation.

Virgin rock

These turkeys were bred in Holland in the 18th century. Even then they were valued for delicious meat and high egg-laying. Improvement of the qualities of the breed took place by selection by weight and wide chest. There were also crossed with other varieties, in particular with a bronze broad chest. At the moment, the virgin breed is distinguished by pure white feathering and heavy weight.

Well, now you know what the origin of the turkey bird is. In the wild, it lives in America and Africa. Having domesticated a turkey, people have brought out just a huge number of its breeds, differing in weight and high fecundity. Of course, it is better for a personal farm or a farm to choose those birds that are well adapted to survival in this particular region.