Morphological and productive characteristics of guajolote (Meleagris gallopavo) raised in backyard systems in Michoacán, México

摘要

TheactualconditionsofthebreedingofbackyardturkeywerestudiedintheMichoacánstate,México.Forthis,astratifiedamplingnbsp;wasmadetocollectnbsp;informationinthefivephysiographicregions.Eachoneoftheseregionspresentsdifferentclimaticandsocioeconomicconditions.Informationofpopulations,morphometric,andsocioeconomicandsanitaryaspectsoftheproductionunitswereobtained.nbsp;Therangeofflocksizewasvariablebetweenregions;hatchingofchickshappensinallseasonsofyearinallregions.Wereregisteredthegeneticsolidcolorsoffeathersoftheadultbirdsasblack,white,lightbrown(orred)andgrayinadditiontoitscombinations.WefoundsomemorphometricdifferencesinthebirdsraisedintheCostalregionwhencomparedwiththeotherregions.Thebirdsareraisedinproductionunitsmainlyrustic;only13%ofthefacilitieshaveshedsforlodging.Thebreedingofbackyardturkeycomesfromfamiliartraditionandisdonemainlybythewomentoprovidemeatforfamilyfestivitiesandsomemoneyincome;thebirdsaremarketedmainlyinthesamecommunitieswheretheyareproduced.Generallyacommercialdietisusedtofeedtheturkeypoultsandcrudegrainorboiledmaize(nixtamal)isusedtofeedgobblersandadultbirds,combinedwithfreeforaging(eatingtenderleavesand/orinsects)orgoingouttothecroppingarea(milpa),orchardsorbackyards.Only22%oftheproductionunitsusevaccines.Intemperateandcoldregions,ahighincidenceofrespiratorydiseaseswasreported.Highincidenceofdiarrhea,smallpoxandnewcastlewasreportedfromwarmanddryregions.Weobservedagroupofbirdsthatwerereportedimmunetoasmallpoxoutbreak,eventhoughtheyweren#8217;tvaccinated.