Variables productivas y calidad cárnica de pavos especializados alimentados con dieta comercial y adicionadas con Zea mays o Leucaena spp.

Background: Turkeys in intensive production are fed grains and oilseed meal. However, turkeys are omnivores and can consume forage. A dietary alternative is the use of foliage from trees such as Leucaena, since diet directly influences meat production and quality. Objective: To evaluate the productive variables and meat quality of specialized turkeys fed a commercial diet supplemented with broken Zea mays grains or 20% Leucaena spp. foliage. Methodology: Commercial turkeys were fed to three different diets to determine productivity and meat quality. Results: Birds fed a commercial diet showed the best productive response but not the best final product quality. Discussion: The chemical composition and presentation of feed directly affect the productive variables of commercial turkeys due to the availability and utilization of nutrients; however, the addition of Leucaena spp. to the diet improves meat quality. Implication: This study provides experimental evidence on the use of Leucaena leucocephala as an alternative forage for turkeys, demonstrating its nutritional viability in tropical systems. By evaluating its impact on feed intake, weight gain, and meat quality, it expands knowledge on poultry diets based on local resources. Furthermore, it establishes a link between diet type and animal welfare, opening new research avenues on product quality and ethical management in semi-intensive systems. Conclusion: Productive response is better with the commercial diet, but the highest meat quality is obtained when corn or Leucaena spp. are added to the feed, suggesting a trade-off between productive efficiency and meat quality.