Raising a turkey in India can be a great alternative to raising poultry. Commercial turkey farming in India is gaining popularity day by day. Turkeys are suitable for commercial production of eggs, meat and can be kept as pets.
They are very beautiful and help to make your home even more beautiful. For economic purposes, turkeys have high meat productivity. But not suitable for commercial egg production. They grow faster and are ready to be slaughtered sooner, like broiler chickens and pigs.
The climate and other circumstances of India are very suitable for growing turkeys. Raising a turkey is as easy as raising chickens. But you should know more about them and their promotion system.
With proper care and management, you can produce more and earn high profits from a commercial turkey farming business in India.
How to Start Raising a Turkey in India
Here we describe the step by step process of starting a turkey farming business in India.
Breed Selection
Turkeys are suitable for commercial meat production. The breeds suitable for cultivation in India are listed below.
- Beltsville
- Bronze
- red bourbon
- Black and slate
- Narragansett
- Small white
- white holland
Among the listed breeds, white breasted turkey breeds are very suitable for India and some other hot Asian countries.
Houses
Good housing is essential for the proper growth and maintenance of a turkey. Intensive and free range are suitable for growing turkeys. The housing design of a turkey resembles a chicken coop.
Since turkeys are large poultry, the cage system is not suitable for them. Most farmers grow them in a deep litter system. In a free-range turkey system, you can keep 250 to 300 turkeys on an acre of fenced land.
In this system, you must provide the bird with 3 to 4 square feet of shelter at night. And in a deep litter turkey system, you can raise them the same way you raise chickens.
When building a chicken coop, make sure you have suitable soil. Keep your home always clean and tidy. Make the right ventilation system. And always try to protect them from all kinds of predators and pests.
some products
Feeding healthy and nutritious food ensures good growth and maximum productivity. Therefore, it is very important to feed the turkey a balanced and nutritious diet.
Typically, turkeys need about 3.25 kg of feed to gain 1 kg of body weight. You can easily feed your turkeys with poultry/chicken feed available in the market.
But you need to add extra protein to your bird feed. In addition to providing a balanced and nutritious diet, always try to give them enough fresh, clean water according to their needs.
Care and management
Proper care and management can ensure better production. Turkeys are like other poultry. They also suffer from various diseases and parasites.
The most common parasites of turkeys are roundworms and mites. Soaking and deworming birds over several periods can keep them healthy and help them grow well.
Turkeys are also susceptible to various fungal, bacterial or viral diseases. Harmful diseases of turkeys – poultry cholera, erysipelas, blue comb disease, coccidiosis, Newcastle disease, arizonosis, chronic respiratory diseases, paratyphoid, turkey runny nose, turkey venereal disease, etc. Timely vaccination and proper care can keep birds healthy and get rid of diseases.
| Vaccination Turkey | |
| Age | Vaccine |
| One day | Newcastle disease – strain B1 |
| foure & 5e One week | Smallpox birds |
| 6e One week | Newcastle disease- (R2B) |
| 8-10 weeks | cholera vaccine |
Marketing
In India, turkey production and meat consumption are on the rise. With proper care and maintenance, male turkeys become fit for slaughter at 24 weeks of age.
At this age, they weigh from 10 to 15 kg. Female turkeys take a little longer and weigh less than males. You can sell your products almost anywhere. You can choose your local market or a big supermarket outside the city.
Commercial turkey farming in India can be a great source of income for existing and new farmers. Before you start, try to practically visit a farm (if there is one) and try to learn more about turkeys and their breeding system.
