Carcass Composition of Young Turkeys as Affected by Diethylstilbestrol and Thiouracil

Abstract

IT IS difficult to obtain a good finish on young turkeys. It is the practice therefore, for producers to grow their birds to a mature body size in order to market a well-finished product.Since many consumers desire a turkey weighing eight to 12 pounds, it is believed consumption can be stimulated if a turkey this size can be properly finished.Many research workers have demonstrated the effects of diethylstilbestrol, administered in the form of a paste or pellet, in improving the finish in turkeys. Some of these workers are Stadelman (1951), Almquist and Merritt (1952), Smyth and Vondell (1955), and Adams (1956). Miner et al. (1959) studied the effect of diethylstilbestrol and dienestrol diacetate on turkey broilers and found growth response to be small and variable, however, the hormone treatments generally improved finish. Adams (1957) found that diethylstilbestrol as a paste or pellet produced better results than as a …