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