Measuring Strain Differences in the Conformation of Turkeys

Amount of Breast Meat and Live and Dressed Grades in Relation to Body Measurements in 12-Week Old Purebred and Crossbred Chickens

“…(See a, Figure 1.) This method is similar to that used by Asmundson (1944), Jaap and Penquite (1938), and Payne (1938) in determining the width of breast in turkeys. The depth of the breast was obtained by measuring the perpendicular distance from the topmost part of the breast outline to the line below from which the width of the breast was determined.…”

Criteria and Genetic Variation of Live Body Conformation in Turkeys

“…While Asmundson and Lerner (1942) reported relatively shorter shank length in strains of comparatively large Broad-Breasted Bronze turkeys than in smaller strains of the same variety, Asmundson (1944) reported that strain differentiation of the Broad-Breasted Bronze turkey at 24 weeks of age could be accomplished by comparing the breast width at one or two centimeters above the keel, whereas shank length, keel length, and body depth were inadequate for such differentiation. Jaap and Penquite (1938) reported that the breast measurement should be taken one and one-half inches above the keel in order to secure satisfactory results, while Bird (1945) advised that breast width is best taken at one-fifth level of the body depth.…”

“…Knox and Marsden (1944) reported that live body weight at 24 weeks of age, breast type, and shank length are inherited, as are other quantitative characters, according to a "blending" type of inheritance. Asmundson (1945) reported on heritable differences in breast width in two strains of ^Bronze turkeys.…”

“…Gutteridge and O'Neil (1942) used a special instrument for measuring breast angle on chickens. Asmundson (1944) measured the breast width of the live turkey by shaping a wire solder to the bird's breast and transferring it to a ruled sheet of paper, a method which the author admitted to be crude. Knox and Marsden (1944) determined breast fleshing, by the "feel" of the hands, a method widely practiced by turkey breeders and recommended by such authorities as Jeffreys (1932), Jull and Briggs (1946), and Marsden and Martin (1946).…”

Influence of selection for body weight at different ages on growth of Turkeys

“….All birclsV^ere weighed at 8, 16 and 24 weeks of age. Length of shank and of keel, and width of breast one centimetre above the keel:.were measured when birds were 24 weeks old as described by Asmundson (1944). For calculating rate of growth the weight differences of day-old poults were.…”