Dietary self-selection and feed restriction studies with growing and breeding turkeys

Abstract

A series of experiments was conducted to examine protein and energy utilization in growing and breeding turkeys, and to investigate the impact of body weight restriction on subsequent reproductive performance. In the first experiment, dietary self-selection of energy and protein and feed restriction were studied in growing turkeys. Body weight of males and females was significantly reduced by feed restriction. Protein efficiency was significantly lower in self-selecting males and females. Feed restriction significantly reduced the carcass yield of males, but not females.