RELATIONSHIP OF SEX, STRAIN, AND BODY-WEIGHT TO CARCASS YIELD AND OFFAL PRODUCTION IN TURKEYS

Three strains of male and female market turkeys (British United Turkey s, Hybrid, and Nicholas) were grown under commercial contract producti on conditions and slaughtered at a range of BW (4,200 to 17,640 g) and age (13 to 22 wk) that covers the range of commercial market weights in use at the time of the study. During processing, the weight of bloo d, feathers, head, neck, feet plus shanks, heart, liver, gizzard, lung s, gastrointestinal tract, water uptake, hot and chilled carcass with fat pad, fat pad alone, tail, wings, drumsticks, thigh meat, Pectorali s major, Pectoralis minor, scapula meat, lower back, upper back with r ibs, breast skin, thigh skin, thigh bone, and hind half (legs, thighs, and saddle) were determined. The data were subjected to least squares analyses using models that included strain and sex effects relative t o live BW. Significant differences in yield between the sexes but not among strains were found for feet plus shanks, gizzard, hot and chille d carcass with fat pad, and scapula meat. Similarly, significant diffe rences in yield among strains but not between sexes alone were found f or blood, feathers, heart, and hind half. The relationships of live BW with all other variables showed both strain and sex differences in yi eld. Whereas whole carcass yield as a function of BW was affected by s ex alone, most other components varied by both sex and strain. Thus, c hoice of strain, sex, and age at slaughter affect the projected produc tion of edible carcass and offal components.