Feed Texture Effects on the Performance of Turkey Broilers

An experiment involving 2400 turkey broilers was conducted to compare feeding starter, grower, and finisher diets in the all-mash form or as crumbles and pellets. The effects of pelleted grower and finisher diets containing 0, 7.5, 15, 30, or 60% “fines” were also comparatively evaluated. Lower body weights and poorer feed conversion resulted when birds were fed the allmash diets, but mortality, carcass grades, and monetary returns were not affected significantly (P<.05). Similarly, as levels of fines in pelleted grower and finisher diets increased, feed conversion was adversely affected and body weights tended to be lower, but mortality, carcass grades, and monetary returns were unaffected (P<.05).