Analysis of Turkey Farming Prospects and Breeding Management Techniques in 2020

Turkeys were domesticated as poultry as early as 5000 BC. They are 3-4 times larger than domestic chickens, with tender and delicious meat, a very strong gamey flavor, a high lean meat rate, rich protein content, low cholesterol and little fat, and they fetch good prices on the market. So what are the turkey farming prospects in 2020? What are the breeding and management techniques?

I. What are the turkey farming prospects in 2020

Turkeys are herbivores and require very little concentrated feed. Under normal rearing, apart from green grass, each bird needs only 20 yuan per year for water and electricity to achieve the results of scientific breeding, and each bird can bring in 80-100 yuan, giving an input-output ratio of 1:4 to 1:5. It has the advantages of low input, high output, low cost and high efficiency.

Turkey meat has a protein content 20% higher than other poultry, while its fat content is 21% lower, and its cholesterol content is low. It feeds mainly on grass, and its meat is tender, free of gamy odor or off-flavors, free of drug residues, and rich and tasty, suitable for all ages. It can adapt to high-end dining tables as well as satisfy ordinary families.

Turkeys are very popular abroad and have long been raised on a large-scale factory basis. Although China has not been raising them for long since their introduction, because turkeys grow quickly, are large, have tender and tasty meat, are nutritious, eat grass and save grain, they have been included in the “National Spark Program” as a wealth-building project, and their development prospects are good.

II. Turkey breeding and management techniques

1. Brooding management

The brooding stage of turkeys runs from 1 day of age to 6 weeks of age. The brooding temperatures required during this stage are: 38 degrees at 1 day of age, 35-37 degrees from 2 days to 1 week of age, 30 degrees at 3 weeks of age, 27 degrees at 4 weeks of age, 24 degrees at 5 weeks of age, and 21 degrees at 6 weeks of age. The brooding humidity required during this stage is: from 1 to 10 days of age, the relative humidity in the brooding house should be kept at 60%-65%. After 10 days of age, it should be kept at 55%-60%. In addition, air circulation must be ensured in the brooding house to prevent diseases such as respiratory tract diseases in turkeys caused by poor ventilation.

2. Fattening management

Turkey fattening houses can use enclosed poultry houses or shed-style poultry houses. Shed-style poultry houses are open for rearing in spring, summer and autumn with natural ventilation, and in winter plastic curtains are lowered to maintain the temperature inside the house. The floor inside the house must be covered with litter to let the turkeys feed naturally. Pelleted feed is best to reduce waste, improve growth efficiency and increase economic returns. From two weeks of age until market, 1% sand grains should be added to the feed each week to promote the digestion and absorption of nutrients.

3. Rearing density

The maximum rearing density for meat-type turkey houses is 30 kilograms of body weight per square meter. This density refers to the suitable standard for achieving better fattening results under good equipment and management conditions.

At present, China's turkey-raising techniques are constantly maturing, and the number of turkeys raised is steadily rising. With China's economic development, the public's lifestyle and dietary habits are constantly changing, and demand for turkeys will gradually increase. This is a good opportunity to promote the development of China's turkey farming industry.