Effect of protein restriction during brooding on spontaneous turkey cardiomyopathy.
The effect of early protein restriction on poult performance and mortality due to spontaneous turkey cardiomyopathy were examined in a facility that historically had a high incidence of the condition. Two thousand male turkey poults were divided into two equal subgroups for the first 4 weeks of life: one received standard commercial rations for the first 4 weeks (high-protein subgroup), and the other received rations with a protein content approximately 70% of the first subgroup (low-protein subgroup). Rations were the same after 4 weeks of age (standard commercial rations). At 16 weeks of age, turkeys in the low-protein subgroup weighed an average of 12.32 kilograms (27.1 pounds), whereas turkeys in the high-protein subgroup weighed an average of 12.73 kilograms (28.0 pounds). Total mortality for the low-protein subgroup was 10.1%, whereas total mortality for the high-protein subgroup was 15.7%. Total mortality due to spontaneous turkey cardiomyopathy in the high-protein subgroup was greater than twice that in the low-protein subgroup (10.4% versus 4.6%). These results show that lowering the protein content of the feed in the first 4 weeks significantly reduces mortality due to spontaneous turkey cardiomyopathy, but body weight gain is also reduced.
Department of Food Animal and Equine Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27606.
S W
SW
Breeding
W A
WA
McRee
M D
MD
Ficken
P R
PR
Ferket
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D018753:Diet, Protein-Restricted; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D008297:Male; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D014422:Turkeys