Whole Barley Compared to Hulled Barley for Turkeys on Range

Abstract

Experimental trials of whole barley and hulled barley as the grain feed for Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys on range were started January, 1955, with the object of determining if the hulled barley would be more readily consumed as compared to whole barley. There were approximately 200 birds per experimental pen. Essential results are given in Table 1.In the first test period started at 13 weeks of age both toms and hens with comparable and limited mash intakes voluntarily consumed less hulled barley than whole barley. The ratio of the amounts of the two kinds of barley consumed by toms was 0.88 and by hens was 0.84, average 0.86. This ratio is equivalent to the inverse ratio of the productive energy values for these grains as given by Fraps.In the second period from 23 to 27 weeks, only toms remained and some of these were given both mash and …