Egg Quality and Reproduction in Turkeys.

A supplemented diet (3.0 percent calcium, 1.06 percent phosphorus and 2350 I.C.U. of vitamin D3 per kilogram) was fed to turkey hens from the beginning of the laying season or after 12 or 16 weeks of production, and compared to a basal breeder diet containing 2.23 percent calcium, 0.83 percent phosphorus and 1806 I.C.U. of vitamin D3 per kilogram. The supplemented diet had no significant effect on egg production, egg weight, percent fertility, percent hatchability of fertile eggs or total plasma calcium. The supplemented diet did increase the amount of shell and reduce shell porosity.