Evaluation of turkey production, consumption pattern and its major constraints in Maiduguri, Borno State.

Turkey production is an important and highly profitable business in agricultural industry with a rising global demand for its products. However in Nigeria, turkey production remained at the smallholder level, receiving little attention compared to other birds such as chicken. The objective of this study therefore, was to assess the level of turkey production, management practices, breeding characteristics, consumption pattern and associated challenges in Maiduguri and its environs. A total of two hundred (200) turkey farmers were randomly selected, interviewed and served with structured questionnaire within the study areas. It was observed that high cost of feed negatively affects farmers in venturing into turkey production. However, diseases particularly turkey pox was also a major challenge militating against turkey production amongst the interested individuals. The result further indicates that semi-intensive management system was the predominant method of management adopted by small-scale turkey keepers in the study areas. Most of the respondents within the study areas have little or no knowledge of artificial insemination techniques in turkey breeding, but they are interested in the assisted reproductive technology. Those involved in turkey farming were mostly young to middle aged people that require technical and financial support, encouragement and special training on contemporary turkey farming and artificial insemination. Few farmers in the study area consumed turkey meat, while majority sold the bird and others consumed the eggs. In conclusion, turkey farming is relatively a new poultry enterprise in the study area. Those involved in turkey farming were mostly young to middle aged people that require technical and financial support, encouragement and special training on contemporary turkey farming and artificial insemination. Problems of disease management and prevention together with lack of capital and high cost of feed were observed to be the major factors limiting turkey production in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]