Improving pellet quality enhances Nicholas Select turkey performance in targeted phases of production

Abstract

SUMMARY: Performance benefits associated with pellet quality (PQ) improvements are well documented for broiler chickens. However, PQ research using modern commercial turkeys is limited. Three experiments (EXP) were conducted to investigate the effects of the percentage of pellets in the diet (60% or 90% pellets) on commercial hen and tom turkey performance and processing variables. In all EXP, 2 feed treatments consisting of either 60% or 90% pellets were provided to 8 replicate pens of Nicholas Select turkeys. Hen turkeys were provided feed varying in the percentage of pellets from 4 to 16 wk in EXP 1 and from 13 to 16 wk in EXP 2. In EXP 3, tom turkeys were provided feed treatments from 4 to 19 wk of age. All turkeys were placed on a commercial feeding program that followed breed recommendations. Common diets for all phases were manufactured at a commercial feed mill to contain 90% pellets. Calculated portions of the feed were ground to create the 60% pellets treatment. Performance and processing metrics were analyzed in a 1-way ANOVA using the GLM procedure of SAS. Feeding 90% pellets to hen turkeys improved feed conversion ratio from wk 13 to 16 in both EXP 1 and 2 (P 0.05). Overall, enhancing turkey performance can be achieved by improving PQ in targeted phases of production.

Keywords

• pellet quality
• feed form
• turkey performance
• feed manufacture