Turkey farming in India can be a great alternative of chicken farming. And commercial turkey farming in India is gaining popularity day by day. Turkeys are suitable for commercial egg, meat production and can be raised as pets.
They are very beautiful and help to increase the beauty of your home. For business purpose, turkeys are highly meat productive. But not suitable for commercial egg production. They grow faster and become suitable for slaughter purpose earlier like broiler chickens and pigs.
Weather and other circumstances of India are very suitable for turkey farming. Turkey farming is very easy like chickens. But you have to learn more about them and their raising system.
By proper care and management, you can produce more and generate high profit from commercial turkey farming business in India.
How to Start Turkey Farming in India
Here we are describing the step by step process of starting turkey farming business in India.
Selecting Breeds
Turkeys are suitable for commercial meat production. The suitable breeds for farming in India are listed below.
- Beltsville
- Bronze
- Bourbon Red
- Black and Slate
- Narragansett
- Small White
- White Holland
Among the listed breeds board breasted white turkey breeds are very suitable for India and some other hot countries of Asia.
Housing
For proper growth and management of turkey, good housing is a must. Both intensive and free range system are suitable for raising turkey. Turkey housing design has similarity with chicken house.
As turkeys are big sized poultry bird so cage rearing system is not suitable for them. Most farmer raise them in deep litter system. In free range turkey farming system, you can keep about 250 to 300 turkeys in one acre of fenced land.
In this system you have to ensure 3-4 squire feet space per bird for sheltering during the night. And in deep litter turkey farming system, you can raise them in the same way of raising chickens.
While making house for the turkeys ensure availability of adequate floor. Keep the house always neat and clean. Make proper ventilation system. And always try to protect them from all types of predators and harmful animals.
Feeding
Feeding healthy and nutritious food ensures proper growth and maximize production. So, it is very important to feed the turkey well balanced and nutritious food.
Generally, the turkeys need about 3.25 kg of feed to gain 1 kg of body weight. You can easily feed your turkeys poultry/chicken feeds that are available in the market.
But you have to add some extra amount of protein with the poultry feed. Along with providing well balanced and nutritious feed, always try to serve them sufficient amount of fresh and clean water according to their demand.
Care & Management
Proper care and management can ensure better production. Turkeys are like other domestic birds. And they also suffer by various types of diseases and parasites.
The most common parasites of turkeys are round worms and fowl mite. Dipping and deworming the birds after a several period can keep them healthy and help them to grow well.
Turkeys also get affected by various types of fungal, bacterial or viral diseases. Harmful diseases of turkeys are fowl cholera, erysipelas, blue comb disease, coccidiosis, new castle disease, arizonosis, chronic respiratory disease, paratyphoid, turkey coryza, turkey venereal disease etc. Timely vaccination and proper care can keep the birds healthy and diseases free.
| Turkey Vaccination | |
| Age | Vaccine |
| One Day | New Castle Disease- B1 Strain |
| 4th & 5th Week | Fowl Pox |
| 6th Week | New Castle Disease- (R2B) |
| 8-10 Week | Cholera Vaccine |
Marketing
Turkey farming and meat consuming rate is increasing in India. In proper care and management, a male turkey become suitable for slaughtering purpose within their 24 weeks of age.
At this age they weight around 10 to 15 kg. Female turkeys take slightly more time and weight less then the male. You can sell your products in almost everywhere. You can choose your local market and some large supermarket in the country.
Commercial turkey farming in India can be a great income source for the existing and new farmers. Before starting, try to visit some farm practically (if available) and try to learn more about turkeys and their rearing system.
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