Effect of Toeclipping and Pen Population Density on Performance and Carcass Quality of Large Turkeys Reared Sexes Separately

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Abstract The inside and middle toenails were clipped from Large White poults at 1 and 12 days of age. Controls, clipping treatments, and sexes were penned separately at “high” and “low” population densities that corresponded to commercial conditions (7.7 dm2 males and 5.8 dm2 females, 0 to 38 days; 44.4 dm2 males and 33.3 dm2 females, 38 days to market) and twice this area, respectively. Feed and pen facilities were constant. Toeclipping had no effect on body weight at any stage of production, but feed conversion was improved for a short time immediately following the operation at each treatment age. Low pen population proved advantageous for feed conversion when crowding occurred. Additional space in the final stages of production improved the body weight of hens, but toms were unaffected. Absence of early mortality from toeclipping was attributed to prompt posthatch placement and delayed debeaking until 12 days. Pen population density had no effect on hen death rate, but torn livability suffered with the onset of sexual maturity and if they had additional space. Hens and toms were commercially processed at 119 and 131 days, respectively. Toeclipping reduced the proportion of utility grade carcasses in hens. Low population density benefited both sexes but did not alter the advantage of toeclipping for hens.