The Influence of Body Weight Restriction During the Growing and Holding Periods on Reproduction of Turkey Females from Strains Differing in Body Weight

Three strains of turkey hens differing in body weight were fed either a control (C) diet or a high fiber (H) diet containing 69% ground oat hulls from 16 to 40 (Hatch 2) or to 42 (Hatch 1) weeks of age. The strains were a randombred control (RBC2), a subline of RBC2 selected for increased 16-week body weight (F), and a subline of F selected for increased egg production (FE). Egg production during a 120-day production period and fertility, hatchability, and poults produced during a 12-week hatching period were measured. The weight of parts of the alimentary canal and the follicular production by the ovary were measured during the early part of the laying period. Feeding the high fiber diet resulted in a 12 to 14% decrease in body weight at 26 weeks of age. Although significant strain × diet interactions for body weight were present during the body weight restriction period, the differences among the strains in response to feeding a high fiber diet were small and probably of little consequence. Feeding a high fiber diet resulted in an increase in the weight of the crop plus thoracic esophagus, proventriculus, gizzard, small intestine, and large intestine plus ceca but had no significant effect on 120-day egg production, fertility, hatchability, number of poults produced per hen, or egg weight. The weights of the proventriculus, gizzard, small intestine, and of the total alimentary canal were smaller in the larger F and FE strains than in the smaller RBC2 strain when expressed as percent of body weight. The weight of the gizzard was also smaller in the larger strains when expressed as actual weight.