Stocking density effects on turkey hen performance to 11 weeks of age
ABSTRACT: Stocking density (SD) affects economic return for turkey production and can impact performance parameters. In this study (2 experimental blocks), Nicholas Select hens (n = 3,550 poults/block) were randomly placed in 1 of 4 SD treatments of 30, 40, 50, or 60 kg/m2 in open rooms (67.5 m2) wi...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Poultry Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S003257912200181X |
| _version_ | 1828224056324784128 |
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| author | S. Jhetam K. Buchynski T. Shynkaruk K. Schwean-Lardner |
| author_facet | S. Jhetam K. Buchynski T. Shynkaruk K. Schwean-Lardner |
| author_sort | S. Jhetam |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT: Stocking density (SD) affects economic return for turkey production and can impact performance parameters. In this study (2 experimental blocks), Nicholas Select hens (n = 3,550 poults/block) were randomly placed in 1 of 4 SD treatments of 30, 40, 50, or 60 kg/m2 in open rooms (67.5 m2) with 4 replications per treatment. Feeder and drinker space were equalized on a per bird basis. Air quality was measured, and ventilation was adjusted to equalize ammonia and carbon dioxide levels across all rooms. Group BW and feed consumption were measured on d 0 and wk 3, 5, 8, and 11. BW gain and mortality corrected feed-to-gain ratio were calculated. Mortality and culls were recorded daily and necropsied for cause of death. At wk 8 and 11, flock uniformity was evaluated (30 birds/replicate). Data were analyzed using regression analyses in SAS 9.4 (Proc Reg for linear regression and Proc RSReg for quadratic regression; SD as independent variable). An ANOVA was performed for air quality (Proc Mixed; SAS 9.4) and a Tukey's range test was used to separate means. Differences were considered significant when P ≤ 0.05. Carbon dioxide and ammonia were consistent across treatments for both blocks. At wk 11, BW decreased linearly as SD increased (P = 0.05). There was a tendency for overall BW gain to decrease linearly as SD increased (P = 0.06). Feed consumption decreased as SD increased during wk 8 to 11 (linear; P < 0.01) and from wk 0 to 11 (quadratic; P = 0.04). SD had no impact on feed efficiency, mortality, or uniformity. Total aggression related mortality and culls were highest in the 30 kg/m2 treatment (linear; P = 0.02). A brief economic analysis was performed utilizing commercial poult and feed costs and income at marketing. Net room income increased as SD increased (linear; P < 0.01). The results indicate that high SD negatively impacted turkey hen final BW and feed consumption, but no effect was observed on feed-to-gain ratio, percent mortality, or uniformity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T17:15:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1f876fdd580540bda5d5c17b3adf4ac1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0032-5791 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T17:15:38Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Poultry Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-1f876fdd580540bda5d5c17b3adf4ac12022-12-22T03:23:39ZengElsevierPoultry Science0032-57912022-06-011016101874Stocking density effects on turkey hen performance to 11 weeks of ageS. Jhetam0K. Buchynski1T. Shynkaruk2K. Schwean-Lardner3Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, S7N 5A8Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, S7N 5A8Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, S7N 5A8Corresponding author:; Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, S7N 5A8ABSTRACT: Stocking density (SD) affects economic return for turkey production and can impact performance parameters. In this study (2 experimental blocks), Nicholas Select hens (n = 3,550 poults/block) were randomly placed in 1 of 4 SD treatments of 30, 40, 50, or 60 kg/m2 in open rooms (67.5 m2) with 4 replications per treatment. Feeder and drinker space were equalized on a per bird basis. Air quality was measured, and ventilation was adjusted to equalize ammonia and carbon dioxide levels across all rooms. Group BW and feed consumption were measured on d 0 and wk 3, 5, 8, and 11. BW gain and mortality corrected feed-to-gain ratio were calculated. Mortality and culls were recorded daily and necropsied for cause of death. At wk 8 and 11, flock uniformity was evaluated (30 birds/replicate). Data were analyzed using regression analyses in SAS 9.4 (Proc Reg for linear regression and Proc RSReg for quadratic regression; SD as independent variable). An ANOVA was performed for air quality (Proc Mixed; SAS 9.4) and a Tukey's range test was used to separate means. Differences were considered significant when P ≤ 0.05. Carbon dioxide and ammonia were consistent across treatments for both blocks. At wk 11, BW decreased linearly as SD increased (P = 0.05). There was a tendency for overall BW gain to decrease linearly as SD increased (P = 0.06). Feed consumption decreased as SD increased during wk 8 to 11 (linear; P < 0.01) and from wk 0 to 11 (quadratic; P = 0.04). SD had no impact on feed efficiency, mortality, or uniformity. Total aggression related mortality and culls were highest in the 30 kg/m2 treatment (linear; P = 0.02). A brief economic analysis was performed utilizing commercial poult and feed costs and income at marketing. Net room income increased as SD increased (linear; P < 0.01). The results indicate that high SD negatively impacted turkey hen final BW and feed consumption, but no effect was observed on feed-to-gain ratio, percent mortality, or uniformity.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S003257912200181Xbody weightfeed efficiencymortalityuniformityair quality |
| spellingShingle | S. Jhetam K. Buchynski T. Shynkaruk K. Schwean-Lardner Stocking density effects on turkey hen performance to 11 weeks of age Poultry Science body weight feed efficiency mortality uniformity air quality |
| title | Stocking density effects on turkey hen performance to 11 weeks of age |
| title_full | Stocking density effects on turkey hen performance to 11 weeks of age |
| title_fullStr | Stocking density effects on turkey hen performance to 11 weeks of age |
| title_full_unstemmed | Stocking density effects on turkey hen performance to 11 weeks of age |
| title_short | Stocking density effects on turkey hen performance to 11 weeks of age |
| title_sort | stocking density effects on turkey hen performance to 11 weeks of age |
| topic | body weight feed efficiency mortality uniformity air quality |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S003257912200181X |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sjhetam stockingdensityeffectsonturkeyhenperformanceto11weeksofage AT kbuchynski stockingdensityeffectsonturkeyhenperformanceto11weeksofage AT tshynkaruk stockingdensityeffectsonturkeyhenperformanceto11weeksofage AT kschweanlardner stockingdensityeffectsonturkeyhenperformanceto11weeksofage |