Effects of Controlled Feeding of Turkeys during the Pre-Breeder Period on Subsequent Performance

From feeding Large White female turkeys a 16% protein pelleted diet from 22 to 38 weeks of age (1) ad libitum, (2) three days per week, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. only, and (3) 80% full-fed, body weight gains were 2.72, 1.51 and 1.16 kg, and feed consumptions were 23.19, 20.80, and 18.01 kg, respectively. From feeding male turkeys from 26 to 38 weeks of age according to treatments (1) and (2), body weight gains were 3.73 and .94 kg, and feed consumptions were 34.56 and 25.98 kg, respectively. All turkeys were full-fed mash diets between 38 and 62 weeks of age. During this period, the body weight gains of the three previously treated groups of females were −.51, .48 and .92 kg, feed consumptions were 39.82, 42.25 and 43.01 kg, and percent egg productions were 42.9, 41.1 and 38.2, respectively. Body weight gains of male turkeys from 38 to 42 weeks of age under the previous treatments were −.03 and 2.43 kg, and feed consumptions were 88.84 and 81.01 kg, respectively. Fertility of eggs was significantly better from hens inseminated with semen from males previously full-fed than those previously restricted in feed intake. Restricting feed intake of female and male turkeys during the pre-breeder period provides no specific advantage except for a saving in feed intake especially among males.