title: Leg strength and performance of large white tom turkeys fed various protein and energy levels.
abstract: Three floor-pen experiments were conducted to determine the effects of varying protein and energy levels on body weight, feed efficiency, mortality, bone breaking-strength, and bone ash, calcium, and phosphorus in large white male turkeys. Increasing metabolizable energy by 100 kcal/kg diet increased body weight and feed efficiency. Increasing dietary protein during starter or finisher periods by 15% resulted in increased body weights by as much as 12%. Modifying dietary protein and energy levels over these ranges did not affect bone strength of toms at market weight.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia 65211.
authors.forename: B N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Kirn
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Firman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D001846:Bone Development / Q000502:physiology; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D014422:Turkeys / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins