2.6 Turkey Nutrition - T2

Question 1

What are the most common commercially raised turkeys?

Answer 1

White Holland
- used to be Broad-Breasted Bronze

Question 2

How is the growth curve and carcass composition of turkeys different from other species?

Answer 2

1. much leaner
2. higher carcass protein, water
3. affects how we feed turkeys

Question 3

Are there differences among turkey strains?

Answer 3

YES, huge differences among strains
- even within a company
- selection of lines for specific purposes

Question 4

Are female turkeys marketed sooner or later than males?

Answer 4

Females are marketed sooner and at a lighter weight than males
- start to deposit excess fat sooner

Question 5

What are the most important market segment of turkeys?

Answer 5

Heavy toms

Question 6

How are broiler turkeys raised differently than larger birds?

Answer 6

Broiler turkeys (< 5kg, whole bird mkt)
- mixed sex flocks

Larger birds raised in single-sex flocks
- same dietary phases (nutrient composition)
- males kept on each phase for a longer period of time than females
- within a sex, differences among strains in phase length

Question 7

Why is it inefficient to grow female turkeys bigger?

Answer 7

High FCR (increases rapidly) = more expensive to feed them then males with lower FCR

Question 8

Turkey feeding guidelines are based on what?

Answer 8

Feeding guidelines based on feed intake amounts, not strictly tied to age

Question 9

What happens to energy and nutrient levels between starter, grower, developer, and finisher diets?

Answer 9

Energy goes up

Nutrient levels go down

*As birds get older and bigger, the proportion of nutrients going towards maintenance relative to growth changes which influences energy and nutrient requirements

Question 10

There are 3 different strains (grade maker, converter, XL) for different markets but they are fed the same diets. What 2 things are different?

Answer 10

1. Different feeding schedules
2. Recommendations proportional to energy

Question 11

What are the 3 different strains of turkeys?

Answer 11

Grade Maker, Converter, XL
- all have different mkt weights

Question 12

What are 3 differences between turkeys and chickens?

Answer 12

1. Nutrient requirements (amounts, not the list of required nutrients)
2. Growth curves (allometric growth)
3. Sexual dimorphism more pronounced at typical market weights

Question 13

What are 2 similarities between turkeys and chickens?

Answer 13

1. Meat-type birds, selected for growth, efficiency and meat yield
2. Selection for health, welfare and conformation as well as performance