| Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo, MGA) is an important agricultural domesticated species that is largely used as a meat type bird. Turkey is a second largest contributor in the world poultry meat production (FAO). Within a time period of 1970 to 2008, turkey production volume increased more than fivefold from 1.2 to 6.1 million tons (FAO). Selection for specific economically important traits, body weight, meat quality, egg production etc. was the main focus by the breeders in the steep rise in productivity. Recent project aimed to find out genetic control for the economically important traits in turkeys as well as to explore causative variants that might be linked to these traits. |
