Incubation behaviour expression in turkey hens and its control in commercial flocks

Abstract

Broodiness expression still occurs in breeding flocks of different domestic bird species, especially in turkey breeding flocks, although is no longer of practical interest since artificial incubation is now exclusively used in the poultry industry. Moreover, as it is negatively correlated with egg production, it remains a source of economic loss for the poultry industry. The genetic background is a key compound for the rate of expression; however differents exogenous and endogenous factors are well known for their stimulatory properties.Taking into account these factors in addition to genetic selection allows to elaborate different strategies to control incubation behaviour expression. Atpresent, control is based on the use of specific rearingmethods and physical treatments which take time. Thus, the practical interest of pharmacological treatments is unquestionable. Recent studies have shown that immunological approachs could be effective to preventits expression in turkey hens. However, although these approaches are promising, commercial applications are not yet available. For various reasons, selective programs were not effective to fully eradicate broodiness occurence. Preliminary data suggest the presence of specific molecular markers which could be used inorder to select against broody behaviour in the future.