The Reproductive Performance of Broad Breasted Bronze Turkeys Maintained on Slatted Floors

Abstract

THE hatchability of turkey eggs, as a general rule, declines after the 9th to the 12th week of the breeding season (Dickens et al., 1941; Atkinson et al., 1955; Jensen et al., 1956). This is particularly true of the hatchability of eggs from broad-breasted stock, and it has been suggested that the hens may become depleted of some nutrient or nutrients. In recent years the importance of vitamin E, niacin, pantothenic acid and folacin has been established in the maintenance of hatchability (Jensen, 1953; Scott and Nelson, 1955; Atkinson et al., 1955; Kratzer et al., 1955, 1956; Ferguson et al., 1956).Declining hatchability of fertile eggs is usually accompanied by a decline in fertility. Atkinson et al. (1955) reported that supplementation of diets with dehydrated alfalfa meal and condensed fish solubles resulted in maintaining fertility at a high level throughout a 17-week breeding period.The object of the present experiment …