MANAGEMENT OF THE BREEDING STOCK 



by the use in successive generations of a pure bred male, 

 being careful to use each year a male of the same variety. 

 In too many cases turkey raisers, in securing new 

 blood, buy a turkey torn for breeding purposes wherever 

 they can secure him and quite regardless of his variety or 

 even whether he is pure bred. The result of this practice 

 can only lead to a crossing and mixing up of the blood to 

 such an extent that in a short time the flock becomes one 

 of mongrels. Most turkey raisers recognize the fact that 

 it is really poor policy to mongrelize their flock in this 

 way, but the turkey flock is a small side-line on most 

 farms and many owners do not take the trouble or pains 

 to keep their flocks pure. 



Should Turkeys be Inbred? 



In a general way it may be said that it is unwise to 

 inbreed turkeys, particularly to continue to inbreed them 

 over any period of time. It is possible to use the same 

 male for two successive years without inbreeding to a 

 dangerous extent, but it is most desirable to secure from 

 time to time absolutely unrelated .blood if possible. 

 Where the breeding stock is yarded and more than two 

 matings are made it is possible to use a torn for two 

 years or more without inbreeding by mating him with 

 the same hens with which he was originally mated ex- 

 cluding his daughters from the pen. In the majority 

 of cases continued inbreeding will lead to a loss of vigor 

 and to a consequent deterioration in the flock. Instances 



43 



