Characterization of carcass development from 14 to 145 days of age in turkey hens from two strains

Body weight and carcass components were measured from 14 to 145 d in Nicholas (NIC) and Hybrid (HYB) strain turkey hens. At most ages, BW of HYB hens was greater than that of NIC and there were small but significant differences in the weight of the Pectoralis minor (PMIN). The relative weight of the PMIN increased in HYB hens from 98 to 145 d. No strain differences in either the absolute or relative weights of the Pectoralis 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 true for the Gastrocnemius muscle (GASTROC). The relative weight of the abdominal fat pad (ABFAT) was significantly increased in NIC hens compared 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 strains (NIC, r2 = .69; HYB, r2 = .51). The relationship between the relative weight of the PMIN and BW was best described with a quadratic model but the r2 in both strains was considerably lower than that for the PMAJ (NIC, r2 = .26; HYB, r2 = .36). The linear relationship between BW and the relative weights of the THIGH and DRUM was negative and positive for ABFAT.