Canonical discriminant analysis applied to biometric data of Nigerian indigenous turkeys.

Abstract

Body weight and eight morphometric variables were used to differentiate three colour variants (white, black and lavender) of Nigerian indigenous turkey populations. Data included the following variables: body weight (BW, Kg), shank length (SL), beak length (BL), abdomen circumference (AC), thigh length (TL), snood length (SN), spur length (SP), tail feather (TF) and caruncle (CR). Phenotypic homogeneity and differences were evaluated using linear discriminant analysis. Results indicated that the black and lavender coloured variants were the closest in all the evaluated parameters. The pairwise squared Mahalanobis distance of 6.745 was obtained between black and lavender while the corresponding distances between white and each of black and lavender were 9.242 and 57.595 respectively (P<0.01). The results of predicted group membership showed that 100.00, 96.40 and 95.10 percent of black, white and lavender colour variant turkeys respectively, were correctly assigned into their phenotypic groups. Also, among the colour variants, white turkeys, showed significantly higher means (P<0.05) for BW, SL, SN and SP. Of all the morphometric variables, BW, SL and AC were the most discriminatory variables to separate the three colour variants. These results could indicate inherent within population variation in morphometric traits among indigenous turkey. Further detailed phenotypic and genetic characterization studies will contribute to the development of strategic breeding programmes for the genetic improvement of indigenous population of turkeys in Nigeria.