Identification of lean or fat turkeys by measurement of plasma very low density lipoprotein concentration

1. Plasma very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) concentrations were measured in two groups of male turkeys at 18 or 20 weeks of age and one group of female turkeys at 16 weeks of age. Values were similar to those of broilers at 7 weeks of age.

2. Carcase analysis was performed on the birds in each group with mean plasma VLDL concentrations in the upper and lower 10 percentiles. In each group the birds with the lowest plasma VLDL concentrations had significantly less abdominal and/or total fat than those with the highest concentrations.

3. The results indicate that plasma VLDL concentration can be used as an indirect method of estimating fatness in male and female turkeys.