Further Observations on the Use of Sunflower Seed Oil Meal in Turkey Starter Rations

Slinger et al. (1949) found that 25 percent protein diets containing as the protein supplements sunflower seed oil meal and 3 to 6 percent fishmeal where seriously deficient in lysine for the poult. Recently, there has been considerable interest in higher protein starters for turkeys based chiefly on a report by Scott et al. (1948) that “high efficiency” diets containing 28 to 30 per cent protein gave the most rapid gains in turkeys to 4 weeks of age. Accordingly, an experiment was conducted to investigate the value of sunflower seed oil meal when included in diets of this type. Broad Breasted Bronze poults were sexed at one day of age and randomly assigned to 5 groups, each containing 34 males and 34 females. All groups were reared on litter, in similar pens in the same brooder house. The birds had access to slatted sunporches from 4 weeks of age. The . . .