Broad Breasted Bronze Turkeys Research Articles

Differences in Susceptibility of Broad Breasted Bronze and Beltsville Small White Turkeys to Dietary-Induced Pendulous Crop

Abstract PENDULOUS crop in poultry is characterized by temporary or permanent distention of the crop with a stagnant liquid or semi-liquid content. The semi-liquid or liquid may constitute as much as 30% of the weight of the bird (Hinshaw and Asmundson, 1936). The incidence of the pendulous condition may range as high as 10% of the flock and the mortality of affected birds may exceed 50%. Death may occur as a result of rupture of the crop or from malnutrition as a result of improper digestion and assimilation of food. Cline (1933) suggested that the amount of protein present in the ration might be a factor in the occurrence of pendulous crop. Hinshaw and Asmundson (1936) reported heredity to be the most important factor in the production of the abnormality. Asmundson and Hinshaw (1938) reported that the condition was an inherited abnormality observed in Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys reared where the …

Hemodynamic Changes Associated with Aging in the Broad Breasted Bronze Turkey

Abstract THE systolic blood pressure of the adult Jersey Buff turkey is about 12–15 percent higher than the young poult (Weiss and Sheahan, 1958), and somewhat higher than those reported for the chicken, duck or pigeon (Sturkie, Weiss and Ringer, 1953; Ringer, Weiss and Sturkie, 1955). The possible role of blood pressure and its association with aortic rupture in turkeys has been suggested (Gibson and deGruchy, 1955; Weiss and Sheahan, 1958); however, no pressure measurements have been made on those breeds exhibiting the malady. This experiment was conducted to measure blood pressure changes with aging in a variety showing this condition of aortic rupture, the Broad Breasted Bronze (BBB) turkey. PROCEDURE Broad Breasted Bronze poults were hatched from the Station's breeding flock every two weeks for 8 consecutive hatches. All birds were reared conventionally. Six males and six females from each hatch, starting at 8 weeks of age, were used …

Some Physiological Responses of Broad Breasted Bronze Poults to Chlorinated Naphthalene

ABSTRACT INVESTIGATIONS by Bell (1952) and Sikes et al. (1952) revealed that a chlorinated naphthalene was one causative agent of hyperkeratosis (X-disease) in cattle and aroused an interest in this laboratory in the possible toxicity of these compounds in poultry. Chlordane, a chlorinated hydrocarbon structurally similar to chlorinated naphthalene, was reported by Moore et al. (1954) to be quite toxic to poults when used in a mixture of equal parts of a 2% chlordane and 0.4% lindane spray to control ants and flies in a room housing poults. They found lindane to be nontoxic to poults when used alone as a spray. Aldrin, a chlorinated naphthalene derivative, when fed at levels of 12.5 and 25 p.p.m. to 76-day old Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys in a 42-day feeding experiment, caused mortalities of 15 and 100%, respectively, the latter occurring in 14 days (Anderson et al., 1952). No reports, however, on the influence . . .

Studies on the Vitamin E Requirement of Turkeys for Reproduction

ABSTRACT SEVERAL reports have shown that vitamin E may be deficient in turkey breeder rations consisting of practical ingredients (Jensen et al., 1953; Atkinson et al., 1955; and Jensen et al., 1956). Little information is available on the quantitative requirement of breeding turkeys for vitamin E. Scott and Nelson (1955) suggested that the requirement of breeding turkeys for vitamin E is in excess of 13.6 I.U. per pound, based on studies with both practical and purified rations. The purpose of the experiments reported here was to extend the studies on the quantitative requirement of turkey breeder hens for vitamin E. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Broad Breasted Bronze turkey hens from a strain maintained at the Experiment Station were used in the study. They were hatched April 1, 1955, were fed a practical ration during the growing period, and were reared on range to 28 weeks of age. At that time ten hens were . . .

A Synovitis in Turkeys Produced by Salmonella Thompson ,

ABSTRACT A synovitis has been observed following intravenous inoculation of turkeys with Salmonella thompson. Clinically the condition was similar to that described by Hinshaw and McNeil (1952) which resulted from intravenous inoculation of Micrococcus pyogenes var. aureus. Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys 24 weeks of age, from a flock that had recovered from a natural infection of Salmonella thompson in the brooder house, were under observation on another study when the condition developed. Each of five turkeys had been given 4.0 ml. and each of five turkeys had been given 2.0 ml. amounts of a 24 hour broth culture of S. thompson intravenously. All birds appeared normal at the time of inoculation. The birds were observed twice daily during the experiment. All turkeys exhibited identical symptoms, regardless of amount of inoculum given. The initial stage of the infection was a septicemia. Five days after inoculation, two birds were observed to have a . . .

Correlation of Dam, Egg, Poult and Adult Weights in Broad Breasted Bronze Turkeys

ABSTRACT THE relationship of dam size to egg and poult weight for both chickens and turkeys has been studied by a number of investigators, but few have reported on poult size and weight at maturity. This study was undertaken primarily to determine the relationship of poult weight to mature weight. Data showing the relationship of dam size to egg weight and egg weight to poult size for different groups are also presented. Halbersleben and Mussehl (1922) reported that chick weight averaged 64 percent of the egg weight and the advantage of chicks hatched from large eggs disappeared with advancing age. Nebraska investigators (1932) found that the weight of poults at 28 days of age did not show any correlation with the weight loss of eggs during incubation and the inherent vitality of poults, when the growth rate during the first four weeks of age is the measure of this quality. The . . .

The Effect of Body Weight in Broad Breasted Bronze Turkeys upon Fertility and Hatchability

MOST comparisons of Bronze or Broad Breasted Bronze with smaller breeds show that hatchability of all eggs set is lower for the larger variety (Sampson and Wilson, 1944; Walter and Hoffman, 1947; Marsden and Olsen, 1950). Somewhat poorer results from hatch of all eggs were reported from larger than from smaller Bronze hens by Funk (1950) although Parker and Harper (1950) found no convincing evidence of such differences among somewhat smaller Bronze hens. Fertility is at times a factor in the low hatchability of turkey eggs and when such low fertility occurs in healthy flocks it can be improved by artificial insemination (Stotts and Darrow, 1955). The experiment reported here was designed to compare fertility and hatchability of hen and tom turkeys of different weights in a commercial flock of Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys under conditions of supplemental insemination. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The Broad Breasted Bronze hens were divided into six …

Some Observations on the Effect of Selection of Males on the Percentage Hatch of Turkey Eggs

Abstract THE low percentage hatch of eggs produced by Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys constitutes a major problem to the producer of turkey hatching eggs. The seriousness of the problem is increased by the variability in hatching results obtained from year to year by individual producers. Marked differences in percentage hatch are also noted on different farms where the same feed is used and breeding stock from the same source is kept. Such variability may indicate that factors of management influence hatching results to a considerable extent. One of the factors in managing turkey breeding flocks that may differ considerably from year to year and from farm to farm is the selection of males for the breeding pens. While it is recommended that general body balance of the male should be considered, in practice selection has stressed thickness of fleshing, with a lesser emphasis on the carriage of the male. Thus selection …

The Effect of Different Levels of Productive Energy, Protein and Methionine upon the Growth of Broad Breasted Bronze Turkey Poults

METHIONINE supplements to the diet of turkey poults have been found to improve growth and feed efficiency by Bird et al. (1948), Atkinson et al. (1953), Pepper and Slinger (1955), Donovan et al. (1955), Lockhart and Thayer (1955), Ferguson et al. (1956a), and many others. Johnson (1950) and Saxena and McGinnis (1952) reported an improvement in feed efficiency with turkey poults due to methionine supplements. The relationship of energy, fiber, protein, and the physical form of the diet to the growth of turkeys has been reported by Scott et al. (1948), Blaylock et al. (1954), Dymsza et al. (1955), Lockhart and Thayer (1955), and Ferguson et al. (1956a, b). The purpose of the present experiment was to determine the relationship between productive energy and methionine supplementation to the diet of turkey poults fed different levels of protein. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE Straight run Broad Breasted Bronze turkey poults were fed diets containing …

Frequency of abortive parthenogenesis in domestic turkey.

SummaryEvidence has been presented that: (1) Frequency of abortive parthenogenesis in the Broad Breasted Bronze turkey is as high as 80% when based on unincubated eggs studied histo-cytologically. (2) There are varietal differences which affect the frequency of occurrence of this type of development. Possibly, environmental differences also affect the frequency of abortive parthenogenesis.

Growth of Broad Breasted Bronze Turkey Poults Fed a 26 Percent Protein Diet with Different Levels of Productive Energy

Abstract SCOTT et al. (1948) showed that growth increases in turkey poults could be obtained by increasing the energy, protein and unidentified vitamin contents of the diet. The relation of growth in turkey poults to the physical form of the diet involving mash, grain, pellets, crumbles, concentrates, fiber content and combinations of these factors has been reported by many investigators (Goff, 1932–34; Goodearl and Moore, 1941; Berg and Bearse, 1947; Ziegenhagen et al., 1947; Robertson, 1950; and Bragg, 1953). Blaylock et al. (1954) fed Bronze poults high and low energy pellets with grain. These workers found no difference in average weights of the birds but feed efficiency of both males and females was improved when high energy, low fiber diets were fed, compared to low energy, high fiber rations. Dymsza et al. (1955) fed poults a 28% protein diet with energy levels of 744, 539 and 341 Calories per pound …

The effect of molybdenum on chick and poult growth.

Summary1) The results of 2 studies with chicks and one study using Broad Breasted Bronze turkey poults have indicated that addition of molybdenum to purified basal diets resulted in a growth advantage of 13.5-19.1% over the unsupplemented group. 2) The feeding of a reconstituted ash mixture which simulated the ash of distillers dried solubles resulted in significant increases in growth rate of both chicks and poults. 3) From the data presented it appears that under conditions of these studies a nutritional requirement for molybdenum by chick and poult may be demonstrated.

The Effect of Amino Acid Supplements to the Diet of Broad Breasted Bronze Turkey Poults Fed Various Levels of Protein and Productive Energy

Abstract INCREASED growth of turkey poults due to methionine supplementation has been reported by Bird et al. (1948), Atkinson et al. (1953), Pepper and Slinger (1955), Donovan et al. (1955) and others. Johnson (1950) and Saxena and McGinnis (1952) have found that the addition of methionine to the diet improved feed efficiency of turkey poults. Klain et al. (1954) reported that the addition of lysine to a poult diet increased growth at the 21.8% protein level but not at 25.5% protein. Lockhart and Thayer (1955) reported increases in growth of turkey poults when methionine and lysine were added to a 26% protein ration; and methionine improved growth at the 22% protein level. Blaylock et al. (1954) reported no differences in average score or commercial grades of turkeys fed different levels of fiber and energy in a study involving free choice feeding of pellets and grain. Dymsza et al. (1955) reported that …

A Comparison of Dressing Percentages and Yield of Edible Cooked Meat in Five Strains of Turkeys as Broilers and as Mature Stock

Abstract GREATER interest is being shown by producers in the dressing percentage and meat yields of different varieties and strains of turkeys in order to increase their profits. Some data has been reported on such comparisons. Harshaw et al. (1943) using 28 and 30-week-old turkeys found that the carcasses of the Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys were highest in percentage of total edible portion followed in order by Beltsville Small White, White Holland, and Standard Bronze. Sweet et al. (1954) reported that Beltsville Small White turkeys gave a cooked meat yield equal to or greater than Broad Breasted Bronze up to a weight of about 12 pounds. However, at heavier weights the meat yields of Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys were greater. They also reported that the Broad Breasted hens weighing 13 to 14 pounds New York dressed weight had a greater evisceration yield than toms of equal or heavier weights or any …

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 …

Heritability of Egg Production in White Holland Turkeys

Abstract ESTIMATES of the heritability of egg production in chickens have been reported by several investigators. Although the inheritance of egg production in turkeys has been studied by Asmundson (1938 Asmundson (1941) and Whitson et al. (1944), there is limited information available concerning the heritability of this character. Wilson and Johnson (1946) estimated the heritability of egg production by pooling data from Bronze and Beltsville Small White turkeys. The estimate calculated by means of the offspring-dam regression method was 2 percent. Shaklee et al. (1952) obtained a much larger heritability of 40 percent for egg production in Beltsville Small White turkeys. Their estimates were calculated by means of full-sib and half-sib correlations and intra-sire regressions. Blow and Glazener (1954) calculated the heritability of egg production in their flock of Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys by phenotypic correlations between full-sibs and half-sibs and intra-sire regressions of offspring on dam. An average of the three …

Turkeys Require Vitamin B12 and Choline

Abstract THE vitamin B12 and choline requirements of chicks have been studied by numerous investigators but little information is available regarding the vitamin B12 requirements of turkeys as affected by choline additions to the diet. Patrick (1951) reported that Beltsville Small White turkeys did not respond to crystalline vitamin B12. Reports by McGinnis (1951) and Sherwood and Briggs (1951) indicated a slight response of Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys to the feeding of vitamin B12. A similar response was reported by Branion and Hill (1951) with crystalline vitamin B12. The work of Gartley et al. (1951) indicated that added dietary choline was not required by poults fed a vegetable protein ration. Couch and Atkinson (1950) reported that the growing turkey receiving an all-vegetable protein ration does not require added vitamin B12 unless antibiotics are also fed. The present investigation was initiated to determine whether poults would respond to vitamin B12 and whether …

Further Studies on Unidentified Growth Factor Sources for Broad Breasted Bronze Turkey Poults

Abstract UNIDENTIFIED growth factors for the turkey poult have been reported to be present in fish meal, fish solubles, distillers dried solubles, liver preparations, dried brewer’s yeast, dried skimmed milk, dried whey, whey products, and grass and alfalfa juices (German et al., 1948; Atkinson and Couch, 1951a, b, 1953; Couch et al., 1954; Patrick, 1951a, b; Scott, 1951a, b, 1952; Menge et al., 1952; McGinnis et al., 1952; Atkinson et al., 1953; Halbrook et al., 1953; Combs et al., 1954; Hixson and Rosner, 1954). The carry-over of riboflavin from the hen through the egg to the chick has been reported by Clandinin (1946), and the transmission of vitamin B12 in a similar manner by Halick et al. (1953). The carryover of unidentified growth factors to chicks has been reported by Johnson (1955); Menge et al. (1952); Csonka et al. (1954); Patterson and McGinnis (1954); Patterson and Blaylock (1953); and Waibel et …

The Effectiveness of Furazolidone in the Control of Hexamitiasis in Turkey Poults

Abstract HEXAMITIASIS in turkeys has been treated with various drugs with little or no therapeutic response. McNeil (1948) obtained promising results in turkey poults with the use of dried whey and copper sulphate. Almquist and Johnson (1951) made preliminary tests with poults using antibiotics and found that streptomycin was of no value but some improvement was observed with aureomycin, terramycin, and penicillin. An outbreak of hexamitiasis occurred in a nutritional experiment conducted by this laboratory with 600 Broad Breasted Bronze turkey poults (Boney et al., 1953) after six weeks on test. Diagnosis of the disease was made by the Poultry Diagnostic Laboratory of Texas A. and M. College. Within twenty-four hours after the symptoms were observed, treatment was initiated with furazolidone at the level of 50 mg./lb., and such treatment was continued through the eighth week of the experiment. Mortality at six weeks varied from 2–46%, and by the end …

The Effects of a Detergent in the Diet of Range Turkeys

Abstract The effects of detergents in the diets of growing chickens have been reviewed and further studied by Branion and Hill (1954) and by March, Burdett and Biely (1954). Biely, March and Silvestrini (1954) have reported that an alkyl-aryl sulfonate fed at 0.1% of a basal ration of laying hens promoted better feed efficiency for egg production. In experiments conducted during 1953 with growing Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys on range, two strains of this variety of turkeys were fed a practical diet of mash and wheat grain, ad libitum. Certain of the mashes were supplemented with a commercial sodium alkyl-aryl sulfonate (Oronite D-40). Approximately 235 birds were placed in each group. Results are given in Table 1. Weight gain was improved very slightly in three out of four comparisons. This fact demonstrates, at least, that the detergent had no appreciable toxic effects. Feed conversion was improved in every comparison, particularly in …