Effect of Dietary Protein and Light Restriction on Body Weight and Semen Production of Breeder Male Turkeys

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The relationships of dietary protein, body weight gain, prebreeder light restriction, age at the start of semen production, and semen volume were studied. Large White breeder male turkeys were fed corn-soybean meal diets containing the following percentages of protein at different age intervals: Treatment A, 26% (8 to 12 weeks), 19% (13 to 18 weeks), 15% (19 to 52 weeks); Treatment B, 26% (8 to 12 weeks), 19% (13 to 18 weeks), 8% (19 to 52 weeks); Treatment C, 17% (8 to 28 weeks), 8% (29 to 52 weeks); Treatment D, 17% (8 to 18 weeks), 8% (19 to 52 weeks). Body weights at 18, 28, and 52 weeks of age were: Treatment A, 11.8, 20.8, and 21.7 kg; Treatment B, 11.4, 15.1, and 17.8 kg; Treatment C, 9.2, 20.0, and 20.7 kg; Treatment D, 9.1, 11.8, and 15.0 kg. The effects of 6 hr light: 18 hr dark (restricted light) were compared with 12 hr light: 12 hr dark (full light) during the prebreeder period (18 to 28 weeks of age). All turkeys received 14 hr light: 10 hr dark from 29 to 52 weeks of age. With full light, 50% of the turkeys were producing semen at 29 weeks and 100% at 32 weeks. With restricted light, 50% of the turkeys were producing semen at 32 weeks and 100% at 34 weeks. Turkeys fed Treatments A, B, C, and D reached 50% production at 28, 30, 29, and 32 weeks, respectively, and all turkeys were producing semen at 35 weeks. The average semen volume per ejaculate for weeks 34 to 52 were: .35, .34, .34, and .25 ml for Treatments A, B, C, and D, respectively; and .34 and .31 ml for full and restricted light, respectively. Treatments B and D reduced body weight gain after 18 weeks of age. However, Treatment B had better semen production than Treatment D. There was no advantage to restricted light during the prebreeder period.