title: The effect of protein level fed during the prebreeder period on performance of large white turkey breeder hens after an induced molt.
abstract: An experiment was conducted to examine the effects of prebreeder protein levels on reproductive performance Large White turkey breeder hens after an induced molt. One hundred and sixty-eight, Nicholas Large White turkey breeder hens were fed either 8, 12, or 16% CP diets (2,904 kcal ME/kg) during the prebreeder period from 56 to 64 wk of age. All hens were photostimulated with 15.5 h of light/d and fed a standard 16% CP breeder ration from 64 to 87 wk of age. Feed intake, plasma triglyceride concentration, reproductive performance, and body weight were regressed on age and prebreeder dietary protein intake using a general linear model. Prebreeder protein intake increased linearly as dietary CP increased. Treatments did not affect prebreeder feed consumption or subsequent egg production. Egg weight and breeder feed consumption were greatest for hens fed 12% CP during the prebreeder period. Plasma triglyceride and body weight increased as prebreeder dietary CP increased. Body weight increased from 56 to 87 wk in a cubic response as the hens aged. Feed consumption increased during the prebreeder period and decreased during the breeder period. Plasma triglyceride content was not affected by turkey hen age or stage of production.
authors.affiliation: Poultry Science Department, Clemson University, South Carolina 29634-0379.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Grimes
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Ort
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Christensen
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004435:Eating; D005241:Feathers / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D010058:Oviposition / Q000502:physiology*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014422:Turkeys / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins; D014280:Triglycerides