Response of Two Strains of Turkey Hens to Various Protein and Energy Feeding Programs

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to note the response of Nicholas and British United Turkey (BUT) strains of turkey hens to so-called North American and European feeding programs. The European program involved increased quantities of protein and essential amino acids relative to energy level of the diet. In Experiment 1, the two feeding programs were each tested with four replicate groups of 40 commercial hens of both strains. Each feed was allocated by weight and allotment continually adjusted for mortality. At 105 days of age, eight hens per replicate pen were sampled for various carcass characteristics. Nicholas hens were most often heavier (P<01) to 56 days, although after this time the BUT strain showed increased growth. At 105 days, BUT hens fed the high-protein diet were the heaviest group, being significantly (P<05) heavier than comparable birds fed low-protein diets. There was no difference (P<05) in feed efficiency from 0 to 105 days or in any of the carcass traits measured.In Experiment 2, the two strains of hens were grown to broiler weight at 70 days, again with conventional versus high-protein diets. Each treatment was tested with six replicate floor pens each containing 50 poults. At 70 days of age both strains of hen were heavier when fed the high-protein diets (P<.05), although the Nicholas hens were heavier than the BUT birds (P<05). The BUT hens ate less feed than Nicholas birds (P<01) and also exhibited superior feed efficiency (P<.01). The mortality rate of BUT hens was greater than that of Nicholas hens when the high-protein diet was used (P<05).There were obvious differences in growth rate of the two strains of turkey hen used in the present trials. Depending upon market age, the BUT hen seemed to respond favorably to diets of higher protein-amino acid content relative to energy concentration. (

Relationship of Sex, Strain, and Body Weight to Carcass Yield and Offal Production in Turkeys

“…This suggests that males are more efficient producers of meat and fat at higher BW than females. The absence of a strain effect on total carcass agrees with the data of Leeson and Caston (1991), who found no strain difference (BUT vs NIC) at 15 wk. However, as reported by a number of investigators (Harshaw and Rector, 1940;Miller, 1968;Dobson, 1969;Orr et al, 1974;Clayton et al, 1978;Wesley et al, 1981;Larsen et al, 1986), total carcass weight does not reflect the distribution of the component weights at various ages.…”

“…Larsen et al (1986) reported that of the three major commercial strains used in the study reported herein, the hens of one strain exhibited better yield at higher BW. However, Leeson and Caston (1991) reported no differences in carcass or left breast weight at 105 d of age for two of the strains used herein, although differences were reported in growth patterns.…”

Responses of Growing and Finishing Turkey Toms to Dietary Lysine

“…This may be the case especially with a late-maturing strain such as the BUT Big 6 bird, which continues to grow at a very high rate beyond a body weight of 15 or 16 kg. Differences in growth pattern between strains are most likely to influence the nutrient requirements in specific feeding periods (Leeson and Caston, 1991). In general, it is relatively difficult to relate the present data from the finisher phase to similar work done in poults of no more than 12 to 13 kg body weight at 18 wk of age (Moran et al, 1992;Waldroup et al, 1993;Sell et al, 1994).…”

Dietary Mixing in a Generalist Herbivore: Tests of Two Hypotheses

“…This has been shown for animals as different as ciliates (Rapport 1980), limpets (Kitting 1980), sea hares (Pennings et al 1993), fish (Lobel and Ogden 1981), birds (Leeson and Caston 1991), land slugs (Speiser and Rowell-Rahier 1991), lizards (Dearing and Schall 1992), and mammals (Belovsky 1984, Chung andBaker 1991). This has been shown for animals as different as ciliates (Rapport 1980), limpets (Kitting 1980), sea hares (Pennings et al 1993), fish (Lobel and Ogden 1981), birds (Leeson and Caston 1991), land slugs (Speiser and Rowell-Rahier 1991), lizards (Dearing and Schall 1992), and mammals (Belovsky 1984, Chung andBaker 1991).…”