Effect of Restricted Feeding During the Growing Period on Reproductive Performance of Large Type White Turkeys

CONSIDERABLE interest in recent years has centered around feeding systems which bring about a decrease in the plane of nutrition either through the restriction of a “complete” ration or the full feeding of an “incomplete” ration at some interval during the growing period. The value of these systems in feeding replacement chickens and their secondary effects on subsequent production and reproduction has been explored by several groups of investigators (Schneider et al., 1955; Sunde et al., 1954; Milby and Sherwood, 1956; Isaacks et al., 1960; and Hollands and Gowe, 1961). In general it has been demonstrated that the body weight of growing pullets is reduced, the onset of sexual maturity delayed from two to four weeks and laying house mortality reduced as a result of lowering total feed intake. These studies do not indicate consistent effects of restrictive feeding on final body weight, total feed consumption, total eggs produced, egg …