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The Use of Thiouracil and Diethylstilbestrol for Finishing Turkeys1
T h e Use of Thiouracil and Diethylstilbestrol for Finishing Turkeys 1 A. R. ROBBLEE, A. B. MORRISON AND D. R. CLANDININ University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta (Received for publication February 5, 1951)
V
ARIOUS workers (Kempster and Turner, 1945; Andrews and Bohren, 1947) have reported that the feeding of thiouracil for varying periods of time results in an improvement in fat deposition and carcass grade of chickens. Reineke et al. (1946) noted that the administration of . 1 % thiouracil in the drinking water produced a slight improvement in the market grade of turkeys. A number of synthetic estrogens have also been used in attempts to improve market finish. Several workers (Lorenz, 1943; Jaap and Thayer, 1944; and Lorenz, 1945) have demonstrated that certain estrogens administered either in the feed or as subcutaneous implants cause an increase in fat deposition and an improvement in the carcass quality of chickens. Estrogens have also been used in finishing turkeys. Thayer and Davis (1948) fed two synthetic estrogens, dianisylhexene and triphenylchloroethylene, to Broad Breasted Bronze turkey broilers. They noted an improvement in fat grade in the treated lots at the end of two weeks of estrogen feeding. In addition, pin feathers were largely eliminated in lots where the estrogen level was sufficiently high for good fattening. In studies with older turkeys, Davis and Thayer (1948) showed a similar increase in fat grade in estrogen-treated lots.
Since experience has shown that the small turkey is the one in greatest demand by the consumer, and that as a consequence a premium of ten cents or more a pound is often paid for turkeys under sixteen or eighteen pounds, it seemed TABLE 1.—Composition of basal rations Ingredients Ground wheat Ground oats Ground barley Ground corn Wheat shorts Dehydrated alfalfa meal Meat meal Soybean oil meal Ground limestone Bonemeal Iodized salt Manganese sulphate, grams A.P.F. supplement*, grams Dri D s (1,000,000 D/lb.), grams Riboflavin, milligrams Calcium pantothenate, milligrams Niacin, milligrams Protein content
Basal 1
Basal 2
lbs. 30 14 14 14 5 5 7 8 1.5 1.0 0.5 11 44
lbs. 30 14 19 14 5 5 5 5 1.5 1.0. 0.5 11 44
44 150
44 150
450 750
450 750
16.2
14.5
1
* Merck #3.
desirable to obtain information relative to the possibility of finishing Broad Breasted Bronze toms at dressed weights of fourteen to sixteen pounds by the use of thiouracil and diethylstilbestrol. With this in mind the following study was initiated.
1 We are indebted to Merck & Co. Limited, Montreal Que., for vitamins and to Wick & Fry, Cumberland, Ind., for diethylstilbestrol pellets used in this study.
772
EXPERIMENTAL
A group of one hundred and eightyfour 16 week-old Broad Breasted Bronze
773
THIOURACIL AND DIETHYLSTILBESTROL FOR TURKEYS
treatment with thiouracil or stilbestrol alone had no effect on rate of gain. However, when a combination of thiouracil and stilbestrol was employed, the rate of gain appeared to be increased. This is in agreement with the results obtained by Andrews and Bohren (1947) with chicken broilers although no inhibitory effect of thiouracil upon growth was noted in the present study. The data rating the birds for fat deposition and pin feathers indicate that thiouracil and stilbestrol alone or in
toms was divided into eight comparable groups of twenty-three birds each and duplicate groups were placed on each of the following treatments: Treatment 1—Basal ration Treatment 2—Basal ration plus 0.2% thiouracil Treatment 3—Basal ration plus 36 mg. diethylstilb estrol Treatment 4-^-Basal ration plus 0.2% thiouracil plus 36 mg. diethylstilbestrol. The 36 mg, of diethylstilbestrol was
TABLE 2.—The effect of treatment on dressed weight and market grade Percentage of birds in each grade Lot* No.
1 2 3 4
Treatment
Average dressed weight lbs.
Basal ration Basal ration plus . 2 % thiouracil Basal ration plus 36 mg. diethylstilbestrol Basal ration plus . 2 % thiouracil plus 36 mg. diethylstilbestrol
Freedom from pin feathers
Fat A
B
C
A
B
C
15.1 15.0 15.4
9 41 71
69 55 27
22 4 2
11 27 79
40 48 17
49 25 4
16.0
76
18
6
80
20
0
* Represents the combined results of duplicate groups.
implanted in the upper neck region in the form of three 12 mg. pellets,* The composition of the basal rations used is shown in Table 1. Basal 1 was fed during the first two weeks of the trial, Basal 2 during the second two weeks. Basal 2 differs from Basal 1 in that it is lower in protein than Basal 1. At the end of the four week test period, the birds were killed, dressed, chilled, weighed and graded. All birds were individually graded A, B. or C for fat deposition and freedom from pin feathers in accordance with Canadian standards for grading dressed poultry. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
A summary of the results obtained is presented in Table 2. It will be seen that * "Capette Pellets"
combination resulted in an improvement in fat deposition. However, stilbestrol alone, or in combination with thiouracil was superior to thiouracil alone in promoting subcutaneous fat deposition. Much the same effect was observed in the case of pin feathers. Stilbestrol alone or in combination with thiouracil resulted in a marked decrease in the incidence of pin feathers on the dressed carcasses. Stilbestrol alone was more effective than thiouracil in reducing numbers of pin feathers and appeared to be as effective as a combination of the two chemicals. It is of interest to recall that Thayer and Davis (1948) using dianisylhexene found that estrogen levels adequate for good fattening largely eliminated the incidence of pin feathers in dressed turkey broilers. The data reported herein would thus appear to confirm the existence of a
774
POULTRY SCIENCE RESEARCH AWARD
relationship between fat deposition and numbers of pin feathers remaining on the dressed carcass. The results of this study indicate that Broad Breasted Bronze toms may be suitably finished at dressed weights of fifteen to sixteen pounds. Finishing toms at this weight would permit the grower to take advantage of the price premium on lighter weight birds and also to take advantage of the turkey's ability to make rapid and economical gains to this weight. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
A study was made on the use of thiouracil and diethylstilbestrol alone or in combination on the market quality of half grown Broad Breasted Bronze toms. The results obtained indicate that both of these compounds may be expected to improve the grades of turkeys marketed at an immature age. The addition of thiouracil to the diet resulted in some increase in fat deposition and a slight decrease in the numbers of pin feathers. However, stilbestrol alone or in combination with thiouracil was more
effective, in improving fat deposition add in decreasing the number of pin feathers on the dressed carcass, than was thiouracil alone. REFERENCES Andrews, F. N., and B. B. Bohren, 1947. Influence of thiouracil and stilbestrol on growth, fattening, and feed efficiency in broilers. Poultry Sci. 26: 477-452. Davis, G. T., and R. H. Thayer, 1948. Finishing market turkeys with estrogens. Poultry Sci. 27: 79-83. Jaap, R. G., and R. H. Thayer, 1944. Oral administration of estrogens in poultry. Poultry Sci. 23: 249-251. Kempster, H. L., and C. W. Turner, 1945. The effect of feeding thiouracil on the fleshing of New Hampshire broilers. Poultry Sci. 24: 94-96. Lorenz, F. W., 1943. Fattening cockerels by stilbestrol administration. Poultry Sci. 22: 190-191. Lorenz, F. W., 1945. The influence of diethylstilbestrol on fat deposition and meat quality in chickens. Poultry Sci. 24: 128-134. Reineke, E. P., J. A. Davidson, L. F. Wotterink and F. N. Barrett, 1946. The effect of thiouracil on fattening turkeys. Poultry Sci. 24: 410. Thayer, R. H., and G. T. Davis, 1948. Use of estrogens in turkey broiler production. Poultry Sci. 27:176-181.
Poultry Science Research Prize Award {Continued from page 77X)
1930—F. A. Hays of Massachusetts State College, with D. G. Warren, Kansas State College, and W. A. Hendricks, A. R. Lee and H. W. Titus, U. S. Department of Agriculture, receiving honorable mention. 1931—V. S. Asmundson of the University of British Columbia, with A. L. Romanoff, Cornell University, receiving honorable mention. 1932—N. F. Waters of Rhode Island
State College, with D. R. Marble and G. 0 . Hall, Cornell University, receiving honorable mention. 1933—D. C. Warren of Kansas State College, with T. C. Byerly, H. W. Titus and N. R. Ellis, U. S. De, partment of Agriculture, receiving honorable mention. 1934—E. P. Johnson of Virginia Polytechnic Institute, with E. R. Menefee, Purdue University, receiving honorable mention.
(Continued on page 777)
V
ARIOUS workers (Kempster and Turner, 1945; Andrews and Bohren, 1947) have reported that the feeding of thiouracil for varying periods of time results in an improvement in fat deposition and carcass grade of chickens. Reineke et al. (1946) noted that the administration of . 1 % thiouracil in the drinking water produced a slight improvement in the market grade of turkeys. A number of synthetic estrogens have also been used in attempts to improve market finish. Several workers (Lorenz, 1943; Jaap and Thayer, 1944; and Lorenz, 1945) have demonstrated that certain estrogens administered either in the feed or as subcutaneous implants cause an increase in fat deposition and an improvement in the carcass quality of chickens. Estrogens have also been used in finishing turkeys. Thayer and Davis (1948) fed two synthetic estrogens, dianisylhexene and triphenylchloroethylene, to Broad Breasted Bronze turkey broilers. They noted an improvement in fat grade in the treated lots at the end of two weeks of estrogen feeding. In addition, pin feathers were largely eliminated in lots where the estrogen level was sufficiently high for good fattening. In studies with older turkeys, Davis and Thayer (1948) showed a similar increase in fat grade in estrogen-treated lots.
Since experience has shown that the small turkey is the one in greatest demand by the consumer, and that as a consequence a premium of ten cents or more a pound is often paid for turkeys under sixteen or eighteen pounds, it seemed TABLE 1.—Composition of basal rations Ingredients Ground wheat Ground oats Ground barley Ground corn Wheat shorts Dehydrated alfalfa meal Meat meal Soybean oil meal Ground limestone Bonemeal Iodized salt Manganese sulphate, grams A.P.F. supplement*, grams Dri D s (1,000,000 D/lb.), grams Riboflavin, milligrams Calcium pantothenate, milligrams Niacin, milligrams Protein content
Basal 1
Basal 2
lbs. 30 14 14 14 5 5 7 8 1.5 1.0 0.5 11 44
lbs. 30 14 19 14 5 5 5 5 1.5 1.0. 0.5 11 44
44 150
44 150
450 750
450 750
16.2
14.5
1
* Merck #3.
desirable to obtain information relative to the possibility of finishing Broad Breasted Bronze toms at dressed weights of fourteen to sixteen pounds by the use of thiouracil and diethylstilbestrol. With this in mind the following study was initiated.
1 We are indebted to Merck & Co. Limited, Montreal Que., for vitamins and to Wick & Fry, Cumberland, Ind., for diethylstilbestrol pellets used in this study.
772
EXPERIMENTAL
A group of one hundred and eightyfour 16 week-old Broad Breasted Bronze
773
THIOURACIL AND DIETHYLSTILBESTROL FOR TURKEYS
treatment with thiouracil or stilbestrol alone had no effect on rate of gain. However, when a combination of thiouracil and stilbestrol was employed, the rate of gain appeared to be increased. This is in agreement with the results obtained by Andrews and Bohren (1947) with chicken broilers although no inhibitory effect of thiouracil upon growth was noted in the present study. The data rating the birds for fat deposition and pin feathers indicate that thiouracil and stilbestrol alone or in
toms was divided into eight comparable groups of twenty-three birds each and duplicate groups were placed on each of the following treatments: Treatment 1—Basal ration Treatment 2—Basal ration plus 0.2% thiouracil Treatment 3—Basal ration plus 36 mg. diethylstilb estrol Treatment 4-^-Basal ration plus 0.2% thiouracil plus 36 mg. diethylstilbestrol. The 36 mg, of diethylstilbestrol was
TABLE 2.—The effect of treatment on dressed weight and market grade Percentage of birds in each grade Lot* No.
1 2 3 4
Treatment
Average dressed weight lbs.
Basal ration Basal ration plus . 2 % thiouracil Basal ration plus 36 mg. diethylstilbestrol Basal ration plus . 2 % thiouracil plus 36 mg. diethylstilbestrol
Freedom from pin feathers
Fat A
B
C
A
B
C
15.1 15.0 15.4
9 41 71
69 55 27
22 4 2
11 27 79
40 48 17
49 25 4
16.0
76
18
6
80
20
0
* Represents the combined results of duplicate groups.
implanted in the upper neck region in the form of three 12 mg. pellets,* The composition of the basal rations used is shown in Table 1. Basal 1 was fed during the first two weeks of the trial, Basal 2 during the second two weeks. Basal 2 differs from Basal 1 in that it is lower in protein than Basal 1. At the end of the four week test period, the birds were killed, dressed, chilled, weighed and graded. All birds were individually graded A, B. or C for fat deposition and freedom from pin feathers in accordance with Canadian standards for grading dressed poultry. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
A summary of the results obtained is presented in Table 2. It will be seen that * "Capette Pellets"
combination resulted in an improvement in fat deposition. However, stilbestrol alone, or in combination with thiouracil was superior to thiouracil alone in promoting subcutaneous fat deposition. Much the same effect was observed in the case of pin feathers. Stilbestrol alone or in combination with thiouracil resulted in a marked decrease in the incidence of pin feathers on the dressed carcasses. Stilbestrol alone was more effective than thiouracil in reducing numbers of pin feathers and appeared to be as effective as a combination of the two chemicals. It is of interest to recall that Thayer and Davis (1948) using dianisylhexene found that estrogen levels adequate for good fattening largely eliminated the incidence of pin feathers in dressed turkey broilers. The data reported herein would thus appear to confirm the existence of a
774
POULTRY SCIENCE RESEARCH AWARD
relationship between fat deposition and numbers of pin feathers remaining on the dressed carcass. The results of this study indicate that Broad Breasted Bronze toms may be suitably finished at dressed weights of fifteen to sixteen pounds. Finishing toms at this weight would permit the grower to take advantage of the price premium on lighter weight birds and also to take advantage of the turkey's ability to make rapid and economical gains to this weight. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
A study was made on the use of thiouracil and diethylstilbestrol alone or in combination on the market quality of half grown Broad Breasted Bronze toms. The results obtained indicate that both of these compounds may be expected to improve the grades of turkeys marketed at an immature age. The addition of thiouracil to the diet resulted in some increase in fat deposition and a slight decrease in the numbers of pin feathers. However, stilbestrol alone or in combination with thiouracil was more
effective, in improving fat deposition add in decreasing the number of pin feathers on the dressed carcass, than was thiouracil alone. REFERENCES Andrews, F. N., and B. B. Bohren, 1947. Influence of thiouracil and stilbestrol on growth, fattening, and feed efficiency in broilers. Poultry Sci. 26: 477-452. Davis, G. T., and R. H. Thayer, 1948. Finishing market turkeys with estrogens. Poultry Sci. 27: 79-83. Jaap, R. G., and R. H. Thayer, 1944. Oral administration of estrogens in poultry. Poultry Sci. 23: 249-251. Kempster, H. L., and C. W. Turner, 1945. The effect of feeding thiouracil on the fleshing of New Hampshire broilers. Poultry Sci. 24: 94-96. Lorenz, F. W., 1943. Fattening cockerels by stilbestrol administration. Poultry Sci. 22: 190-191. Lorenz, F. W., 1945. The influence of diethylstilbestrol on fat deposition and meat quality in chickens. Poultry Sci. 24: 128-134. Reineke, E. P., J. A. Davidson, L. F. Wotterink and F. N. Barrett, 1946. The effect of thiouracil on fattening turkeys. Poultry Sci. 24: 410. Thayer, R. H., and G. T. Davis, 1948. Use of estrogens in turkey broiler production. Poultry Sci. 27:176-181.
Poultry Science Research Prize Award {Continued from page 77X)
1930—F. A. Hays of Massachusetts State College, with D. G. Warren, Kansas State College, and W. A. Hendricks, A. R. Lee and H. W. Titus, U. S. Department of Agriculture, receiving honorable mention. 1931—V. S. Asmundson of the University of British Columbia, with A. L. Romanoff, Cornell University, receiving honorable mention. 1932—N. F. Waters of Rhode Island
State College, with D. R. Marble and G. 0 . Hall, Cornell University, receiving honorable mention. 1933—D. C. Warren of Kansas State College, with T. C. Byerly, H. W. Titus and N. R. Ellis, U. S. De, partment of Agriculture, receiving honorable mention. 1934—E. P. Johnson of Virginia Polytechnic Institute, with E. R. Menefee, Purdue University, receiving honorable mention.
(Continued on page 777)