Effect of Restricted Feeding from 6 to 20 Weeks of Age on Reproductive Performance of Turkeys

Abstract

A study was undertaken to determine the influence of nutrient restriction between 6 weeks and 20 weeks of age on the reproductive performance of commercial turkey breeders. Females were restricted in feed intake to 70% or 60% of full-fed control hens. Males were restricted to approximately 50% of normal feed intake for the same period. The body weight of restrictedfed females was significantly less than that of control hens at 20, 32, and 52 weeks of age. The restricted hens consumed approximately 10% less feed during the 6-to 52-week period than the control hens. There were no carry-over effects of feed restriction on rate of egg production, feed per egg, hatchability, fertility or egg weight. Also, restriction of feed for males had no subsequent effects on fertility of eggs.

Effects of age and of early lighting on ovarian function in breeding Turkeys

“…Hocking et al (1987) observed comparable results in broiler breeders fed ad libitum and showed that the higher egg production of broiler breeders limited in point of lay body weight by food restriction is associated with a lower incidence of multiple ovulation. Food restriction experiments in turkeys have not produced consistent increases in egg production, but this procedure has not usually been applied to birds photostimulated before 30 weeks, nor have the treatments tested produced large depressions in body weight at sexual maturity (Balloun, 1974;Jones et al, 1976;Owings and Sell, 1980). Nestor et al (1970; and Bacon et al (1972) have shown that selection for increased growth in turkeys resulted in a greater incidence of yellow follicles developing as pairs.…”

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

“…During the first egg production season, turkey hens fed ad libitum during the growth, holding, and reproductive phases have been reported to either lose (Borron et al, 1974;Cherms et al, 1976;Thomason et al, 1976;McCartney et al, 1977;Krueger et al, 1978;Potter et al, 1978;Menge et al, 1979;Owings and Sell, 1980;Rosebrough et al, 1980) or gain body weight (Balloun, 1974;Borron et al, 1974;Woodard et al, 1974;Andrews and Morrow, 1978;Meyer et al, 1980;Rosebrough et al, 1980;Nestor et al, 1981) during the reproductive period. Following a forced molting, a gain (Ferguson et al, 1975) or loss in body weight (Thomason et al, 1976) has been reported during the second production period.…”

“…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). Flocks housed in conventional floor pens which initiate egg production in cool weather and continue egg production into hot weather (seasonal flocks) normally lose weight during the reproductive period (Cherms et al, 1976;McCartney et al, 1977;Potter et al, 1978;Owings and Sell, 1980). Conversely, flocks housed in conventional floor pens which initiate egg production in warm or hot weather and continue egg production into cool weather (out of season flocks) gain weight during the reproductive period (Meyer et al, 1980) or maintain relatively constant weight (Krueger et al, 1978).…”

“…Nutrient restriction during the growing and/or holding period which is severe enough to reduce body weight by 10% or greater at housing results in body weight increases, regardless of environmental temperature, during the egg production period (Balloun, 1974;Borron et al, 1974;Jones et al, 1976;Potter et al, 1978;Andrews and Morrow, 1978;Meyer et al, 1980;Owings and Sell, 1980). Body weight and reproductive capacity of turkey breeder hens is controlled by the genetic potential of the individual hens as well as their nutritional and environmental histories.…”

Effects of Feed Restriction During the Rearing Period and Age at Photostimulation on the Reproductive Performance of Turkey Hens

“…The results for egg production were more variable. Jones et al (1976), Andrews and Morrow (1978), and Voitle and Harms (1978) showed that restricted-fed hens produced significantly fewer eggs, whereas Potter et al (1978), Owings and Sell (1980), Nestor et al (1981), and Ferket and Moran (1986) showed no effect of feed restriction on total egg production.…”