Performance Of Turkey Poults Research Articles

Feed Particle Size as a Factor Affecting Performance of Turkey Poults

Preliminary studies in our laboratory have indicated that the use of pellets or granular type feed in starting poults produced faster growth than mash alone. Under certain conditions there was a tendency toward cannibalism among the poults fed on pellets or granular feed. The purpose of the present study was to investigate various methods of using a pelleted or granular type feed which would promote maximum growth and minimize the danger of cannibalism.METHODSIn this study six methods of feeding pellets and granular type feed were compared with mash feeding in starting turkey poults. A standard commercial 24% protein turkey starter formula was used. The methods of feeding are shown in Table I.The birds used were day-old Broad Breasted Bronze poults. Birds were random selected and lotted thirty per lot in replicate pens of fifteen each. For the first three weeks they were brooded in commercial electric battery .