Inheritance of Rate of Growth in Bronze Turkeys

IT HAS been shown that much of the difference in percentage rate of growth of large and small strains and varieties of chickens occurs during the earlier months of the birds’ post hatching life. Thus Asmundson and Lerner (1934) found that Barred Plymouth Rocks grew more rapidly than Single Comb White Leghorns up to 16 weeks of age but not thereafter. Inherited differences in percentage rate of growth have been demonstrated between breeds of chickens (Lerner and Asmundson, 1932) and within breeds and varieties (Asmundson and Lerner, 1933). Inherited differences in weight have been shown for chickens based on mature weights (Waters, 1931) and about 8 weeks of age (Schnetzler, 1936). The inheritance of differences in gain and in weight at 8 weeks in turkeys has been reported by Abplanalp and Kosin (1952). They, Knox and Marsden (1944) and Asmundson (1948) have reported inherited differences in the weight of 24-week-old …