A Study of Certain Environmental Factors on the Reproductive Performance of Large White Turkeys

Abstract

The study presented was designed to determine the effects of light intensities of 5.4 and 86.1 lux, of laying cages versus conventional litter floors and of constant environmental temperatures of 12.8°, 21.1° and 29.4°C. on the reproductive performance of Large White female turkeys.A light intensity of 5.4 lux yielded comparable results to that of 86.1 lux when 16 hours of light were provided.Turkey females in laying cages laid at a higher rate over the first 12 weeks of production and showed an increase in feed consumption and body weight over those maintained in conventional litter pens. No significant differences were observed between the two pen environments for total egg production, hatchability of fertile eggs and egg weights. Percentage settable eggs and percentage fertility were lower from females maintained in cages. The percentage of cracked and broken, and soft- and thin-shelled eggs from cage birds increased over the production period.A constant pen temperature of 29.4° C. dramatically reduced egg production below that obtained from females maintained at 12.8° and 21.1° C. The high pen temperature also reduced feed consumption, body weights, egg weights, the effectiveness of broodiness control and increased the incidence of birds molting and mortality. Fertility, hatchability, percentage settable eggs and shell thickness were unaffected by the imposed temperature environments. Pen temperatures of 12.8° and 21.°C. yielded comparable results for all reproductive parameters studied.It is concluded that reproductive potential of turkeys in the present study was maximized on conventional litter floors with constant temperatures between 12.8° and 21.1° C. and light intensities between 5.4 and 86.1 lux.