One hundred eight male and 206 female breeder turkeys were fed isocaloric corn-soy rations containing 8, 10 or 12, and 10, 12 or 14'% crude protein, respectively, to which 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, or 0.3% DL-methionine was added in a factorial arrangement of treatments,.

With the exception of percentage hen-day egg production and egg size, dietary treatment had no significant effect on the reproduction of females or on the growth of the progeny. Egg production was higher among females fed 12 and 14% protein than among those fed 10% protein. Those fed 14% protein laid the heaviest eggs. Female serum albumin concentrations and the concentrations of blood threonine and lysine significantly increased while concentrations of blood glycine decreased with increased levels of dietary protein.

Optimum semen volume and spermatozoa concentration were obtained for males fed 10% protein.

For females, the significant response obtained in egg production to increased protein levels and the failure to obtain this response with increased total sulfur amino acid (TSAA) levels as a percentage of total protein, indicates that other amino acids may have been limiting. Based on these results, it appears that for optimum reproduction of Medium White breeder turkeys, a daily intake of at least 22.7 g protein and 696 mg TSAA are necessary for females, and 25.0 g protein and 1,175 mg TSAA are necessary for males.