A Study of Certain Environmental Factors on the Reproductive Performance of Large White Turkeys

Abstract

The study presented was designed to determine the effects of light intensities of 5.4 and 86.1 lux, of laying cages versus conventional litter floors and of constant environmental temperatures of 12.8°, 21.1° and 2°.4°C. on the reproductive performance of Large White female turkeys.A light intensity of 5.4 lux yielded comparable results to that of 86.1 lux when 16 hours of light were provided.Turkey females in laying cages laid at a higher rate over the first 12 weeks of production and showed an increase in feed consumption and body weight over those maintained in conventional litter pens. No significant differences were observed between the two pen environments for total egg production, hatchability of fertile eggs and egg weights. Percentage settable eggs and percentage fertility were lower from females maintained in cages. The percentage of cracked and broken, and soft-and thin-shelled eggs from cage birds increased over the production period.A constant pen temperature of 29.4° C. dramatically reduced egg production below that obtained from females maintained at 12.8° and 21.1 °C. The high pen temperature also reduced feed consumption, body weights, egg weights, the effectiveness of broodiness control and increased the incidence of birds molting and mortality. Fertility, hatchability, percentage settable eggs and shell thickness were unaffected by the imposed temperature environments. Pen temperatures of 12.8° and 21.°C. yielded comparable results for all reproductive parameters studied.It is concluded that reproductive potential of turkeys in the present study was maximized on conventional litter floors with constant temperatures between 12.8° and 21.1°C. and light intensities between S.4 and 86.1 lux.

Body Weight Changes During the Reproductive Period in Four Strains of Turkey Hens

“…These results also agree with Thomason et al (1972; in that switching from low to high environmental temperatures is associated widt body weight loss in laying turkey hens. This body weight loss appears to be independent of die birds' genetic potentials for mature body weight and egg production.…”

“…High environmental temperatures have been associated with body weight loss and poor egg production (Thomason et al, 1972;. Switching from low to high environmental temperatures was associated with body weight loss, while switching from high to low environmental temperature was associated with weight gains during egg production (Thomason et al, 1976;Woodard et al, 1974).…”

Economic Analyses of the Reproductive Performance of Turkeys Under Certain Environmental Conditions

“…This trend was due to decreasing egg production with increasing temperatures. The response of egg production to environmental temperatures as demonstrated by Thomason et al (1972Thomason et al ( , 1976Thomason et al ( , 1977 casts doubts as to whether lower temperatures would increase egg production significantly; therefore, a temperature of 21.1 C is a close approximation of the optimum temperature for these birds. Egg production, feed consumption, and body weight per bird per flock were 26.39 eggs, 9.64 kg and 8.70 kg, respectively.…”

“…The effects of environment on the reproductive performance of turkeys had been demonstrated (Thomason et al, 1972(Thomason et al, , 1976(Thomason et al, , 1977(Thomason et al, , 1978. Such information is of critical importance to the manager of turkey breeder flocks.…”

Performance of Cage Versus Floor Turkey Hens

“…Olsen and Lucas (1963) reported a decrease in cracked eggs and foot problems for turkey hens on plastic coated wire floors when compared to hens on conventional wire floor cages. According to Thomason et al, (1972Thomason et al, ( , 1976 cages appeared to cause a reduction in percent settable eggs; however, rate of egg production was higher for caged birds. They also reported a higher feed consumption in caged hens resulting in a heavier body weight.…”