Response of male BUT big 6 turkeys to varying amino acid feeding programs.
Dietary protein is a major cost contributor in turkey nutrition. Therefore, a feeding trial with male BUT Big 6 turkeys to 154 d of age was conducted to examine how live performance and economics are affected when dietary amino acid levels are altered in different phases. Six dietary treatments were run with treatment 1 as the control in which balanced protein levels were according to recommendations during all 6 phases. Treatments 2 through 6 used combinations of balanced protein (based on lysine) that ranged from 90 to 120% of those used in treatment 1. The combinations for the 6 phases of feeding were 120, 120, 120, 120, 90, and 90% for treatment 2; 120, 120, 120, 100, 90, and 90% for treatment 3; 120, 120, 100, 100, 90, and 90% for treatment 4; 120, 120, 120, 120, 100, and 100% for treatment 5; and 90, 90, 90, 100, 100, and 100 for treatment 6. Final BW was highest in treatment 4 and lowest in treatment 2 (P < 0.05), whereas final BW were intermediate and statistically not different in treatments 1, 3, 5, and 6. Breast meat yield was highest in treatment 5 and lowest in treatments 2 and 3 (P < 0.05). Mortality seemed to be reduced in treatment 6 compared with treatments 2, 3, and 5 (P < 0.10). Performance data in combination with economic simulations suggested that the feeding regimens of treatments 4 or 6 might be alternative strategies to treatment 1 to improve overall profitability.
Lemme
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A
Degussa AG, FA-M-AN, Rodenbacher Chaussee 4, 63457 Hanau, Germany. andreas.lemme@degussa.com
Frackenpohl
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U
Petri
A
A
Meyer
H
H
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D008297:Male; D014422:Turkeys / Q000254:growth & development*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
D000596:Amino Acids