The Effect of Restrictive and Compensatory Growth on the Incidence of Leg Abnormalities and Performance of Commercial Male Turkeys

To determine if excessive body weight and dietary protein and amino acid intake contribute to the incidence of leg deformities, the growth of male turkeys was restricted from 6 to 12 wk and from 6 to 20 wk of age by feeding diets for ad libitum intake that were low in dietary protein and amino acids (74% of controls). For those turkeys whose growth was restricted from 6 to 12 wk of age, a return to control diets (low compensatory plane) or to 20% above control diets (high compensatory plane) with respect to protein and amino acids resulted in live body weights comparable with controls at 20 wk of age. Feed to gain ratios (0 to 20 wk) were comparable between compensated and control birds, and protein efficiency was improved for birds fed the low compensatory plane diets. Restricting growth significantly lowered the incidence of leg abnormalities at 12 wk of age (P less than .05), as compared with controls, but by 20 wk, only birds fed the low compensatory plane diet showed a lowered incidence (P less than .06). These results on leg abnormalities (mainly valgus-varus deformities) suggest that rapid weight gains or dietary protein and amino acid intake may contribute to the leg weakness syndrome but is certainly not the only factor involved.