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

Abstract
Plasma very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) concentrations were measured in 2 groups of male turkeys at 18 or 20 wk of age and 1 group of female turkeys at 16 wk of age. Values were similar to those of broilers at 7 wk of age. Carcass 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. Plasma VLDL concentration can be used as an indirect method of estimating fatness in male and female turkeys.