CHARACTERIZATION OF CARCASS DEVELOPMENT FROM 14 TO 145 DAYS OF AGE INTURKEY HENS FROM 2 STRAINS

Body weight and carcass components were measured from 14 to 145 d in N icholas (MC) and Hybrid (HYB) strain turkey hens. At most ages, BW of HYB hens was greater than that of NIC and there were small but signifi cant differences in the weight of the Pectoralis minor (PMIN). The rel ative weight of the PMIN increased in HYB hens from 98 to 145 d. No st rain differences in either the absolute or relative weights of the Pec toralis major (PMAJ) were observed. The absolute and relative weights of the tibia plus associated muscles (DRUM) and femur plus associated muscles (THIGH) were significantly heavier in HYB hens. The same was t rue for the Gastrocnemius muscle (GASTROC). The relative weight of the abdominal fat pad (ABFAT) was significantly increased in NIC hens com pared with HYB hens from 70 to 145 d. There was a linear relationship between the relative weight of the PMAJ and BW in hens from both strai ns (NIC, r(2) = .69; HYB, r(2) = .51). The relationship between the re lative weight of the PMIN and BW was best described with a quadratic m odel but the r(2) in both strains was considerably lower than that for the PMAJ (NIC, r(2) = .26; HYB, r(2) = .36). The linear relationship between BW and the relative weights of the THIGH and DRUM was negative and positive for ABFAT.