Abstract

GARCIA-FLORES, Alejandro  and  GUZMAN-GOMEZ, Elsa. The native turkey, an everyday backyard element in Playa Ventura, Copala, Guerrero, México. agric. soc. desarro [online]. 2016, vol.13, n.1, pp.1-18. ISSN 1870-5472.

The objective of this study was to identify the cultural importance of the Mexican turkey (Meleagris gallopavo Linn.) serving as a peasant production system amongst families of the community of Playa Ventura, Guerrero. Ethnobiological techniques were applied through 33 surveys carried out in family units, and the data was analyzed with descriptive statistics. The production system is traditional in that it relies on family labor, both for personal consumption of meat, eggs, and others (91 %), and for sale (9 %). A total of 385 turkeys were registered with an average of 11.6 per backyard. The uses indicated, according to the surveys, were the following: food (80 %), gifts (15 %), medicinal (5 %). It is important to mention that 100% of the informants utilize this bird’s excrement as manure. The preferred mode of management is in a traditional pen (89 %). Feeding consists of crushed maize, soaked tortilla, vegetable scraps, and termites. The most frequent diseases are turkey pox and diarrhea, which are treated with home remedies. Traditional knowledge regarding how to manage the turkeys is especially employed and transmitted in practice by the women of the families in the community, which guarantees the development of the turkey production system, based on its prevailing cultural significance and contribution to family diet.

Keywords : diet; traditional knowledge; management; use; family unit.

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