Determination OF Economic Age OF Marketing Local

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the economic age of marketing for local broiler turkeys. The age groups used were 16, 20, 24 and 28 weeks. Three rations; turkey starter, grower and finisher were formulated. Eighty four poults were fed the three rations in the study which lasted 28 weeks. A Completely Randomised Design with the age groups (16, 20, 24 and 28 wks) as the treatments and weeks 1 to 28 as replicates was adopted. Significant differences (P<0.05) existed among the values of all the parameters evaluated. With the exception of cost benefit ratio which decreased with age, the values of other parameters increased with age. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the final weight of birds at 20, 24 and 28 (3631.20, 4501.20 and 5011.20g/bird) weeks but that at 24 and 28 weeks were significantly higher (P<0.05) than the final weight at 16 weeks of age (2671.20g/bird). Total feed intake of birds at 28 weeks (28.79kg/bird) was significantly greater (P<0.05) than others whereas that at 16 weeks (9.31kg/bird) was the least. Cost of production was significantly highest (P<0.05) at 28 weeks (N1611.82/bird) while that at 16 weeks (N548.38/bird) was the least. The revenue and gross margin at 28 weeks (N4259.52/bird and N2647.70/bird) were respectively higher than others with those at 16 weeks (N2270.52/bird and N1722.16/bird) being the least. Cost per kg weight gain at 16 weeks (N209.30) was significantly lower (P<0.05) than others while that at 28 weeks (N324.96) was the highest. Feed conversion ratio of the birds at 16 weeks (3.55) was statistically not different (P>0.05) from that at 20 weeks (4.39) but was significantly lower than that at 24 and 28 weeks respectively (5.08 and 5.80). Cost benefit ratio at 16 weeks (3.14) was significantly higher (P<0.05) than that at 20 (2.47), 24 (2.02) and 28 weeks (1.64). It is recommended that turkey famers could market local broiler turkeys at 16 week of age since it was the most economic age.
Key words: Economic age, Marketing, Local Turkeys