Turkey Breeder Flocks Research Articles

Hematocrit as An Indicator of Egg Production in Turkey Breeder Hens

Weekly hematocrit measurements were correlated with weekly egg production throughout the breeding season of Large White turkey hens. A highly significant negative regression of egg production associated with hematocrit was observed, occurring without regard to differences in the incidence of broodiness in the flocks under study. Approximately 20% of the total variance in egg production was accounted for by the regression on hematocrit. A high hematocrit (≥45%) was a fairly accurate indicator of poor production; however, not all hens which laid poorly (≤33% production) during a weekly period exhibited a high hematocrit. Virtually all hens having a hematocrit of 48% or greater were totally out of production during the weekly period surrounding the hematocrit measurement.The hematocrit may be a useful method for rapid identification of a significant proportion of the unproductive hens in a turkey breeder flock. Elimination of environmental temperature extremes may enhance the usefulness of this technique.

Studies on Natural Infection and Egg Transmission of Arizona hinshawii 7:1,7,8 in Turkeys

SUMMARY Turkeys naturally infected with Arizona hinshawii 7:1,7,8 and Salmonella senftenberg were studied during the growing period. Birds were then selected from this flock for egg-transmission studies. A. hinshawii 7:1,7,8 infection was mainly systemic in nature in growing birds. The serological response to A. hinshawii 7:1,7,8 was highest at 4 weeks of age and at the time the birds were coming into production. Egg transmission of A. hinshawii 7:1,7,8 was inferred to be transovarian. Transmission rate was higher in birds (group 1) which had been serologically and culturally negative during the growing period than in birds (group 2) which had been serologically and/or culturally positive. The serological response of birds during production was lower in the first group than in the second group. The most effective method of detecting turkey breeding flocks infected with A. hinshawii 7:1,7,8 seemed to be cultural examination of hatch debris and dead poults during the brooding period.

Evaluation of Monitoring Programs for Salmonella Infection in Turkey Breeding Flocks

SUMMARY A study was conducted on 34 turkey breeding flocks involving 74,547 birds. In this study a comparison was made between 100% serological test for Salmonella pullorum and S. typhimurium and a combination of 500 blood samples test and 500 cloacal swabs. It was observed that the combination of 500 blood samples test and 500 cloacal swabs was equal in accuracy to 100% serological test. Five hundred blood samples test was inferior to 100% serological test in accuracy. On the basis of this study it was proposed that 100% serological testing be replaced by 500 blood samples test and 500 cloacal swabs.

Genetics of Growth and Reproduction in the Turkey: 3. Further Selection for Increased Egg Production

THE poor reproduction generally observed in turkey breeder flocks results in high poult costs and seasonality of production. Therefore, it is important to investigate possible methods that commercial turkey breeders can use to genetically improve reproduction while remaining competitive in growth traits.Asmundson and Lloyd (1935), Shaklee et al. (1952) and Knox and Marsden (1954) apparently increased egg production greatly in a few generations by selection. Several growth and conformation traits were selected for along with egg production by Knox and Marsden (1954). Egg production for nine months in the Beltsville Small Whites was increased from 79.6 to 146.2 eggs per hen over an eight-year period. However, no environmental control was used in these studies, and as a result, a large part of the gains observed could have been the result of a positive environmental trend.McCartney et al. (1968) developed lines for increased egg production, increased 8-week body weight…

Epidemiologic and Field Observations on Avian Influenza in Minnesota Turkeys

Avian influenza virus (AIV) was detected in Minnesota turkeys by virus isolation and by hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) tests with A/Turkey/Wisconsin/66 virus used as the HA antigen. The virus isolated appears closely related to the A/Turkey/Wisconsin/66 virus. The disease was seen primarily in turkey breeding flocks. The characteristic observed most commonly was a precipitous drop in egg production, sometimes to below 10% within 5 to 10 days. There was also a concurrent drop in fertility and hatchability. Many of the hens exhibited a depressed, listless attitude. Mild respiratory signs were noted in some outbreaks but not in others. All flocks remained serologically negative to HI tests for Newcastle disease and to complement-fixation tests for ornithosis. Several serum plate reactors to Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) were found early in the disease, but all flocks were considered negative on the basis of the HI test. All flocks were positive for Mycoplasma meleagridis by the serum plate agglutination test.

Salmonella Penetration of the Outer Structures of White- and Speckled - Shell Turkey Eggs

SUMMARY White-shell eggs were found in two adult turkey breeding flocks. In contrast to normal speckled eggs from the same flocks, the whiteshell eggs were more susceptible to outer structure penetration by Salmonella typhimurium. Food-color dye tests revealed more gross openings in the shells of white eggs, which were also thinner than speckled eggs. Normal speckled turkey eggs were rather resistant to shell penetration by salmonella organisms up to 48 hours of incubation.

History, Morphology, and Biochemical and Antigenic Properties of Salmonella typhimurium, Strain P-10

The macroscopic tube agglutination test for Salmonella typhimurium infection has been used since 1967 in classifying turkey flocks as U. S. Typhimurium Controlled under the National Turkey Improvement Plan (NTIP) (2). The test is also used in testing chicken flocks, but there exists no official classification for such tested flocks under the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) (2). Official use of blood testing for turkey breeding flocks to supplement other methods of S. typhimurium control came about as a result of recommendations of the Committee on Salmonellosis and Related Enteric Diseases of the NPIP-NTIP, approved at the June 1958 National Plans Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. The tube agglutination test had previously been used to test not only chickens and turkeys but occasionally other avian species, as has been reviewed elsewhere (11). Although the recommendations made at the 1958 Conference, and published first in the 1959 edition of the INPPIP-NTIP (1), covered both somatic (0) and flagellar (H) antigens for use in typhimurium tube agglutination testing, only the somatic type antigen is presently produced and used in official testing. In the United States a single strain of S. typhimurium, designated P-10, is presently recommended for use in preparing the antigen. This strain is nonmotile, possesses no detectable flagellar antigens, grows well on artificial media, possesses satisfactory antigenic stability, and is not sensitive to negative sera. Yamamoto et al. (12) and Smyser et al. (10) respectively reported on use of the culture for producing tube agglutination antigen to test turkeys and chickens. In view of the widespread use of strain P-10 in serological testing for S. typhimurium infection in avian species in the United

Isolation of an Unidentified Hemagglutinating Virus from the Respiratory Tract of Turkeys

Production and fertility problems arise frequently in turkey breeding flocks. Various factors or agents have been incriminated as the cause of some of them, but many others remain unsolved by diagnosticians (1,2,7). This report concerns one such problem where an unusual respiratory disease developed in a turkey flock. Respiratory symptoms were followed by a marked drop in egg production and hatchability. A hemagglutinating virus, hitherto unknown in the area and distinct from Newcastle disease virus (NDV), was isolated from infected birds. The agent, which we have tentatively named Wilmot virus, was isolated on only one occasion (Flock 1), but serological evidence of its presence was encountered in 4 other flocks (Flocks 2 to 5).

Egg and Semen Production Performance of Turkeys Under Cage Management

THERE are many advantages of housing of turkey breeding flocks in individual cages. One of the most important is positive identification of the hen that laid the egg. Cage confinement of turkeys reduces the need for large acreage and provides protection from winter storms and predators; dust can be eliminated in areas where air pollution may be a problem; and light restriction programs are possible when hens are kept in laying houses.The Poultry Department of the University of California since 1953 has kept turkey hens in individual wire floor cages and a few trials with caged males have been in progress since 1957. Three difficulties with cage management have appeared so far: high incidence of egg breakage, larger numbers of soft shelled eggs than found with floor management and foot contusions. Some commercial turkey growers have experienced similar difficulties.The effects of cage confinement on turkey males and females…

Transmission and Control of Infectious Sinusitis in Turkeys

A FTER two, consecutive, yearly outbreaks of infectious sinusitis and aerosaccitis among the Clemson College turkey flocks, a study was made to determine possible egg transmission of the infectious agent. Although various pathogenic organisms may cause infection in different areas of the respiratory tract of poultry, pleuropneumonia-like (PPLO) organisms are considered to be the etiological agents in the majority of cases where these infections exist. Isolation and cultivation of PPLO from turkey sinusitis material have been accomplished by several investigators.2 3'4'5,7 However, the extent to which turkey sinusitis and aerosaccitis are egg transmitted is not completely known. Recent data by Hofstad6 indicate that hens of turkey breeding flocks showing clinical signs of these two diseases are capable of transmitting the causative organisms by way of the egg. The purpose of this paper is to report the isolation of the turkey sinusitis agent from dead turkey embryos and hatched poults of an infected breeder flock and to present the results of a follow up control program among 130 severely infected young progeny.

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

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 Holding Time of Turkey Semen on Fertilizing Capacity

ARTIFICIAL insemination as a method to improve fertility in turkey breeding flocks is of increasing economic importance. The satisfactory application of this technique following the description of Quinn and Burrows (1936) has been demonstrated by many workers including Burrows and Marsden (1938), Parker and Barton (1946), Harper (1949), McCartney (1951) and Lorenz and Carson (1951).A major problem limiting use of artificial insemination is the short time that the semen may be held following collection. Garren and Shaffner (1952) found that the optimum temperature for holding semen of chicken males was 10°C. and hens inseminated with stored semen did not remain fertile as long as those inseminated with fresh semen. Hunsaker, Aitken and Lindblad (1954) observed that 15°C. appeared to be the optimum holding temperature for semen but fertilizing capacity was not lowered significantly by holding semen at either 10° or 20°C. Fertility was found to drop rapidly as length …

Application of Artificial Insemination in Turkey Breeder Flocks

SINCE the development of Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys, fertility and hatchability have been major problems in the turkey industry. The loss in turkey eggs from these two factors amounts to approximately 40% of all eggs set. Infertility or apparent infertility makes up about two-thirds of this loss.Considerable research work has been carried out in recent years to elucidate the problem of fertility in turkeys in an effort to improve their reproductive efficiency. Since the early work of Burrows and Marsden (1938) which indicated that fertility could be improved in turkeys by using artificial insemination, considerable work has been carried out using this technique as a tool for studying various phases of the fertility problem. Little experimental work is available to indicate the effect of artificial insemination upon fertility in large mass-mated Bronze turkey breeding flocks.McCartney (1951a) showed that artificial insemination gave maximum results in White Holland turkeys when …

A Study of Certain Factors Affecting Fertility in the Turkey ,

THE incidence of low fertility in turkey breeding flocks has created a serious problem for the turkey industry. At the present time relatively little is known about the factors contributing to infertility in the turkey. The fact that our knowledge of fertility in the chicken following forty years of investigation of this subject remains incomplete indicates that the problem of avian fertility is not a simple one.In the past few years a number of studies have provided information concerning some of the factors which appear to contribute to apparent infertility. Wilcke (1939) and Milby and Thompson (1945) reported that preferential mating was frequently responsible for low fertility in single male matings. It was also noted by Milby and Thompson (1945) that some hens remained infertile after rotation of the toms. However, Hale (1951) observed that although the differential fertility of female turkeys typically fitted the criterion of preferential mating, …