Análisis de variables morfológicas de pavos de traspatio mexicanos (Meleagris gallopavo gallopavo) = Analysis of morphological variables in Mexican backyard turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo gallopavo)

The objective was to evaluate some morphological characteristics of backyard Turkeys (n=248) coming from 126 rural production units located in 75 municipalities of 24 States of the Mexican Republic. The statistical model included sex, state, and municipality within state. The three explanatory variables affected all the response variables (P<0.01), except municipality, which did not affect breast circumference (P>0.05). Male Turkeys had greater (P<0.001) body length (10.7 cm more), wingspan (11.4 cm more), breast circumference (13.8 cm more), shank length (2.5 cm more), body weight (2.5 kg more), stockiness (9.0 percentage units more) and massiveness (2.8 percentage units more) than female Turkeys. Body weight showed to be highly correlated phenotypically (P<0.01) with breast circumference in both males (r=0.74) and females (r=0.71). Body length was lowly correlated with shank length (r=0.25; P<0.01) in males, but it was not correlated with shank length in females (r=0.05; P>0.05). Body weight increased 143 g in males (P<0.01) and 113 g in females (P<0.01) for each centimeter increment in breast circumference. The predominant colors in the plumage, skin and tarsus were black, white and brown, respectively. The Mexican backyard Turkey presented significant sexual dimorphism and strong phenotypic correlation between breast circumference and body weight.