Simulation of weight gain and feed consumption of turkeys

dc.contributor.authorParmar, Rajbir Singhen
dc.contributor.committeecochairDiehl, Kenneth C.en
dc.contributor.committeecochairCollins, Eldridge R.en
dc.contributor.committeememberHeatwole, Conrad D.en
dc.contributor.committeememberHulet, R. Michaelen
dc.contributor.committeememberMason, J. Philip Jr.en
dc.contributor.departmentAgricultural Engineeringen
dc.date.accessioned2015-07-09T20:43:27Zen
dc.date.available2015-07-09T20:43:27Zen
dc.date.issued1989en
dc.description.abstractLike most agricultural production systems, effective decision making in turkey production systems requires the prediction of future status of the system and evaluation of alternative management policies. A simulation model of a turkey production system was developed to predict values of flock performance indicators of significant economic importance, namely body weight and feed consumption. Existing weather simulation models were combined and modified in order to develop a model that predicted daily dry-bulb temperature and humidity ratio outside the turkey house. The weather simulation model was validated using twenty years of daily observed weather data from Roanoke, Virginia. Thermal environment inside the turkey house was predicted from simulated outdoor weather using energy and mass balance equations. House environment prediction part of the model was validated using observed inside and outside temperature data collected at a turkey farm in Virginia. A discrete event simulation model was developed to simulate the effects of house thermal environment, feed energy, sex, and age on weight gain and feed consumption of growing turkeys. The model was validated using temperature, body weight, and feed consumption data collected at a turkey farm in Virginia. The observed average bird weights at marketing age were within 95% confidence intervals of the predicted values. However, the model underpredicted energy consumption values. The sensitivity of the model to variations in R-value, ventilation rate, and feed energy concentration was evaluated. The model was more sensitive to feed energy concentration.en
dc.description.degreePh. D.en
dc.format.extentxi, 179 leavesen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/54257en
dc.language.isoen_USen
dc.publisherVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
dc.relation.isformatofOCLC# 20316037en
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subject.lccLD5655.V856 1989.P366en
dc.subject.lcshTurkeys -- Feeding and feedsen
dc.titleSimulation of weight gain and feed consumption of turkeysen
dc.typeDissertationen
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten
thesis.degree.disciplineAgricultural Engineeringen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.namePh. D.en

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