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

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...

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Main Authors: C.M. Poholsky, L.S. Erb, A.M. Lyons, P. Rohlf, J.W. Boney
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-06-01
Series:Journal of Applied Poultry Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1056617123000120
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author C.M. Poholsky
L.S. Erb
A.M. Lyons
P. Rohlf
J.W. Boney
author_facet C.M. Poholsky
L.S. Erb
A.M. Lyons
P. Rohlf
J.W. Boney
author_sort C.M. Poholsky
collection DOAJ
description 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). In EXP 3, improvements to tom turkey performance were observed from wk 4 to 14 (P < 0.05) but diminished as turkeys approached market age (P > 0.05). Overall, enhancing turkey performance can be achieved by improving PQ in targeted phases of production.
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spelling doaj.art-f5ef7a9cd6c24a8585520158cbc02cff2023-05-18T04:37:47ZengElsevierJournal of Applied Poultry Research1056-61712023-06-01322100340Improving pellet quality enhances Nicholas Select turkey performance in targeted phases of productionC.M. Poholsky0L.S. Erb1A.M. Lyons2P. Rohlf3J.W. Boney4Department of Animal Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USADepartment of Animal Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USADepartment of Animal Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USAAviagen Turkeys Inc., Lewisburg, WV 24901, USADepartment of Animal Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Corresponding author: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). In EXP 3, improvements to tom turkey performance were observed from wk 4 to 14 (P < 0.05) but diminished as turkeys approached market age (P > 0.05). Overall, enhancing turkey performance can be achieved by improving PQ in targeted phases of production.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1056617123000120pellet qualityfeed formturkey performancefeed manufacture
spellingShingle C.M. Poholsky
L.S. Erb
A.M. Lyons
P. Rohlf
J.W. Boney
Improving pellet quality enhances Nicholas Select turkey performance in targeted phases of production
Journal of Applied Poultry Research
pellet quality
feed form
turkey performance
feed manufacture
title Improving pellet quality enhances Nicholas Select turkey performance in targeted phases of production
title_full Improving pellet quality enhances Nicholas Select turkey performance in targeted phases of production
title_fullStr Improving pellet quality enhances Nicholas Select turkey performance in targeted phases of production
title_full_unstemmed Improving pellet quality enhances Nicholas Select turkey performance in targeted phases of production
title_short Improving pellet quality enhances Nicholas Select turkey performance in targeted phases of production
title_sort improving pellet quality enhances nicholas select turkey performance in targeted phases of production
topic pellet quality
feed form
turkey performance
feed manufacture
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1056617123000120
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