The Effect of Population Density on the Production of Market Turkeys

TURKEY production has become very competitive and highly specialized with more birds being reared in larger production units. Many management recommendations, currently utilized by the turkey industry, lack supporting research data. In fact, most of the recommended procedures are based on research with the chicken or represent the opinions of growers through their own experience. The producer has taken this information, modified it somewhat and applied it to his turkey growing program without really knowing whether his management practices are resulting in maximum growth, feed efficiency, market quality, and maximum returns from his rearing facilities. Population density studies with species other than the domestic turkey have been extensively explored (Smith, 1961; Nishigaki, 1963, with insects; and Clough, 1965, with rodents). Data obtained with swine by Heitman et al. (1961) have shown that maximum rates of body weight gain in confinement increased to a floor space allowance of 186 dm.2/animal. Jensen…