Measuring Strain Differences in the Conformation of Turkeys

Abstract WITH the multiplicity of strains of turkeys now available, it has become desirable to find out (1) what measurements show the established strain differences best, (2) to what extent the apparent differences are due merely to differences in size and to what extent they are independent of such size differences, and (3) what the mode of inheritance of these differences is. This paper deals with the first two problems. The measurements to be used should preferably be (1) simply and easily made and should (2) differentiate between desirable and undesirable conformation as judged by preferences of buyers and consumers. The measurements that have been used fall into two groups—linear measurements of bones (for example, length of the tarsometatarsus or shank) and body dimensional measurements (for instance, depth of body). Obviously the latter may be determined by the size and conformation of many organs. Most of the measurements reported have . . .