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Recycling Turkey Hens
RECYCLING TURKEY HENS R. L . ATKINSON, J. W . BRADLEY, C . B . SCHOM, T . M . , FERGUSON AND W . F . KRUEGER
Department of Poultry Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843 (Received for publication October 15, 1973)
POULTRY SCIENCE 53: 847-849, 1974
INTRODUCTION
HERE has been an interest in obtaining more than one profitable cycle of egg production from turkey hens for many years. Until the advent of dark-houses, recycling attempts using forced molting techniques were largely unsuccessful. The initial work on forced molting was accomplished with chicken hens. Hansen (1966) studied the effect of frequency of rests (forced molts) on hen performance and egg production. He suggested that the best force molting procedure was to reduce light to 8 hours for 49 days with restricted feed and water beginning on the 22nd day of light restriction. Moyer et al. (1966) used the forced molting technique in an attempt to improve fertility of infertile turkey hens. The birds were forced molted using a light restriction period of 12 weeks. Fertility was greatly improved following forced molting. Additional work by Van Krey et al. (1967) indicated that egg production was slightly improved after force molting, but that fertility and hatchability were slightly reduced. Working with Chukars, Woodard et al. (1969, 1970) reported that these birds could be recycled to lay for four successive 10 week periods by alternating the long day photoperiods (16L-8D) with short day photoperiods (8L-16D) of 6 weeks duration, and without molting the birds. Egg production
T
was improved in succeeding cycles with no effect on egg size, fertility or hatchability. Additional work with turkeys has been reported by Leighton et al. (1971). Birds were force molted and restricted to 6 hours light for 12 weeks. These workers reported that egg production, fertility and hatchability were essentially normal following the force molting and light restriction period.
847
EXPERIMENTAL Broad Breasted White turkey hens (120) were placed in individual laying cages. They were fed a practical type 18% protein turkey breeder ration. Egg production was initiated in such a way that the birds reached 50% production on approximately the first of March. Egg production records were then maintained for a period of 15 weeks at which time the hens were still laying at a rate of approximately 40%. Four weeks later (July) they were moved from the cages to floor pens, one of which was totally darkened and equipped with an evaporative cooling system. Seventy birds were placed in this pen and force molted by removing the feed for 84 hours and water for 36 hours. Twenty-five birds were moved to a conventional pen during this 84 hour period, kept on full feed and water, and then placed in the dark pen with the other 70 birds. The rest of the birds (25) were force molted as
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at East Tennessee State University on May 27, 2015
ABSTRACT Following a laying cycle of 100 days, turkey hens received one of the following treatments: (1) darkhouse-molted, (2) darkhouse-nonmolted, and (3) conventional house-molted. After an 8 week darkhouse treatment, the hens were caged for another 100 day production period. Birds in groups which were darkhoused laid at approximately 80% of that observed in the first cycle. Highly significant (P S .01) positive correlations for production were obtained in the darkhoused groups between cycles. Those darkhouse hens not molted had the highest between cycle correlation. Those maintained in a conventional house and molted did not lay as well in the second cycle. The correlation between individual hen records for this group was -0.03 and nonsignificant statistically.
848
RESEARCH NOTES
RESULTS The results of this study are shown in Table 1. Egg production (eggs/hen) is shown for the two cycles along with the standard deviation and coefficient of variation. Egg production was approximately the same in the first cycle for all three groups. This was due to TABLE
1.—•Effect
Production (eggs/hen)
First Cycle (1) Mean s C.V. Second Cycle (2) Mean s C.V. 12
.01
of dark-house treatment on egg production o,fB.B.W. Dark house
turkeys
Molted
Nonmolted
Molted only
53.31 18.02 37.00
55.18 13.34 27.11
56.79 5.96 11.48
47.10 15.66 33.25 +0.378**
45.00 13.15 29.22 +0.578**
38.01 18.49 48.53 -0.032
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at East Tennessee State University on May 27, 2015
the fact that the groups were equalized to average approximately the same level of production for the first cycle. The much lower standard deviation and coefficient of variation for the group molted but not darkhoused was the result of partial selection to make certain that only good egg producers in cycle 1 were represented in this group since it served as a control group. Egg production for cycle 2 was approximately the same for the two darkhouse groups, though somewhat lower than that obtained in cycle 1. Egg production in cycle 2 was approximately 80% of that obtained in cycle 1. The standard deviations and coefficients of variation were approximately the same for the two darkhouse groups in both cycles, indicating that performance was about the same in both groups for both cycles, although production itself was slightly lower. Egg production was considerably lower in the second cycle for the group molted and not placed in a darkhouse. The standard deviation and coefficient of variation were both much higher for cycle 2 in this group indicating that performance was not similar for the two cycles. A correlation between records of individual hens for the two cycles was calculated on each of the three groups. A highly significant correlation (P s .01) was found for the groups placed in the darkhouse. A nonsignificant correlation was observed between cycles for
above and maintained in a conventional pen under natural light and temperature conditions. These three groups of hens had been equalized so that they averaged approximately the same rate of production for the 15 week pre-molt period or the first cycle. Birds in the group which was not dark-housed were partially chosen to make certain that this group was made up of birds which had been average or better producers during the first cycle. The birds were fed a 16% protein holding ration during this 8 week treatment period. They were then moved back to the cage houses and placed in the cage they occupied during the first 15 week cycle. They were again placed on an 18% protein turkey breeder ration. After a two week re-adjustment period they were lighted to re-initiate production, and then carried through a second 15 week production period or second cycle. A correlation was calculated between individual hen records for cycle 1 and cycle 2 for each experimental group to determine the degree of relationship between succeeding records.
849
RESEARCH NOTES
in a darkhouse environment and that it may not be necessary to force molt the birds. REFERENCES Hansen, R. S., 1966. The effect of frequency of rests (forced molts) on hen performance and egg quality. Poultry Sci. 45: 1089. Leighton, A. T., H. P. Van Krey, D. D. Moyer and L. M. Potter, 1971. Reproductive performance of force-molted turkey breeder hens. Poultry Sci. 50: 119-126. Moyer, D. D., A. T. Leighton and H. P. Van Krey, 1966. Force molting of infertile turkeys to improve fertility. Poultry Sci. 45: 1108. Van Krey, H. P., A. T. Leighton and D. D. Moyer, 1967. Force molting of turkeys to obtain a second season of production. Poultry Sci. 46: 1331. Woodard, A. E., H. Abplanalp and W. O. Wilson, 1969. Repeated cycles of egg production within one year in the Chukar partridge. Poultry Sci. 48: 1893. Woodard, A. E., H. Abplanalp and W. O. Wilson, 1970. Induced cycles of egg production in the Chukar partridge. Poultry Sci. 49: 713-717.
Nunc Dimittis Elliot Kimball Elliot Kimball died in Jamaica, New York, on September 1, 1973, at the age of 74. A number of his papers on plumage genetics were published in Poultry Science in the 1950's and early 1960's. He was self-educated in the classics and was master of an unusually large vocabulary which was reflected
in his writings. Mr. Kimball was a proficient amateur painter, mineralogist, and printer, and was a ghost writer of note. He was a Sherlock Holmes scholar and his monograph "Watsoniana" is now a collector's item.
JANUARY 27-30. SOUTHEASTERN-INTERNATIONAL POULTRY TRADE SHOW, ATLANTA CIVIC CENTER, ATLANTA, GEORGIA. FEBRUARY 4-8. AUSTRALASIAN POULTRY SCIENCE CONVENTION, HOBART, TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA. FEBRUARY 14-16. PACIFIC COAST RENDERERS ASSOCIATION CONVENTION, CAMELBACK INN, SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA. MARCH 4-9. PACIFIC EGG AND POULTRY ASSOCIATION CONVENTION AND EXPOSITION, DISNEYLAND HOTEL AND CONVENTION CENTER, ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at East Tennessee State University on May 27, 2015
the group molted but not darkhoused. These results would indicate that birds recycled in a darkhouse, whether molted or not, should be expected to perform similarly from one cycle to the next. Although not demonstrated in Table 1, observation of individual hen records would indicate that only good producers should be recycled since poor producers in a first cycle tended to be poor producers in additional cycles. Attempts were made to cycle the hens for a third period of production. The hens contacted mycoplasma while in the darkhouse and subsequently suffered high mortality. The birds with good production records that recovered were moved to cages after darkhouse treatment and observed. Many of these birds laid at rates similar to that observed for cycle 2. This study clearly indicates that turkey hens to be recycled should be maintained
Department of Poultry Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843 (Received for publication October 15, 1973)
POULTRY SCIENCE 53: 847-849, 1974
INTRODUCTION
HERE has been an interest in obtaining more than one profitable cycle of egg production from turkey hens for many years. Until the advent of dark-houses, recycling attempts using forced molting techniques were largely unsuccessful. The initial work on forced molting was accomplished with chicken hens. Hansen (1966) studied the effect of frequency of rests (forced molts) on hen performance and egg production. He suggested that the best force molting procedure was to reduce light to 8 hours for 49 days with restricted feed and water beginning on the 22nd day of light restriction. Moyer et al. (1966) used the forced molting technique in an attempt to improve fertility of infertile turkey hens. The birds were forced molted using a light restriction period of 12 weeks. Fertility was greatly improved following forced molting. Additional work by Van Krey et al. (1967) indicated that egg production was slightly improved after force molting, but that fertility and hatchability were slightly reduced. Working with Chukars, Woodard et al. (1969, 1970) reported that these birds could be recycled to lay for four successive 10 week periods by alternating the long day photoperiods (16L-8D) with short day photoperiods (8L-16D) of 6 weeks duration, and without molting the birds. Egg production
T
was improved in succeeding cycles with no effect on egg size, fertility or hatchability. Additional work with turkeys has been reported by Leighton et al. (1971). Birds were force molted and restricted to 6 hours light for 12 weeks. These workers reported that egg production, fertility and hatchability were essentially normal following the force molting and light restriction period.
847
EXPERIMENTAL Broad Breasted White turkey hens (120) were placed in individual laying cages. They were fed a practical type 18% protein turkey breeder ration. Egg production was initiated in such a way that the birds reached 50% production on approximately the first of March. Egg production records were then maintained for a period of 15 weeks at which time the hens were still laying at a rate of approximately 40%. Four weeks later (July) they were moved from the cages to floor pens, one of which was totally darkened and equipped with an evaporative cooling system. Seventy birds were placed in this pen and force molted by removing the feed for 84 hours and water for 36 hours. Twenty-five birds were moved to a conventional pen during this 84 hour period, kept on full feed and water, and then placed in the dark pen with the other 70 birds. The rest of the birds (25) were force molted as
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at East Tennessee State University on May 27, 2015
ABSTRACT Following a laying cycle of 100 days, turkey hens received one of the following treatments: (1) darkhouse-molted, (2) darkhouse-nonmolted, and (3) conventional house-molted. After an 8 week darkhouse treatment, the hens were caged for another 100 day production period. Birds in groups which were darkhoused laid at approximately 80% of that observed in the first cycle. Highly significant (P S .01) positive correlations for production were obtained in the darkhoused groups between cycles. Those darkhouse hens not molted had the highest between cycle correlation. Those maintained in a conventional house and molted did not lay as well in the second cycle. The correlation between individual hen records for this group was -0.03 and nonsignificant statistically.
848
RESEARCH NOTES
RESULTS The results of this study are shown in Table 1. Egg production (eggs/hen) is shown for the two cycles along with the standard deviation and coefficient of variation. Egg production was approximately the same in the first cycle for all three groups. This was due to TABLE
1.—•Effect
Production (eggs/hen)
First Cycle (1) Mean s C.V. Second Cycle (2) Mean s C.V. 12
.01
of dark-house treatment on egg production o,fB.B.W. Dark house
turkeys
Molted
Nonmolted
Molted only
53.31 18.02 37.00
55.18 13.34 27.11
56.79 5.96 11.48
47.10 15.66 33.25 +0.378**
45.00 13.15 29.22 +0.578**
38.01 18.49 48.53 -0.032
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at East Tennessee State University on May 27, 2015
the fact that the groups were equalized to average approximately the same level of production for the first cycle. The much lower standard deviation and coefficient of variation for the group molted but not darkhoused was the result of partial selection to make certain that only good egg producers in cycle 1 were represented in this group since it served as a control group. Egg production for cycle 2 was approximately the same for the two darkhouse groups, though somewhat lower than that obtained in cycle 1. Egg production in cycle 2 was approximately 80% of that obtained in cycle 1. The standard deviations and coefficients of variation were approximately the same for the two darkhouse groups in both cycles, indicating that performance was about the same in both groups for both cycles, although production itself was slightly lower. Egg production was considerably lower in the second cycle for the group molted and not placed in a darkhouse. The standard deviation and coefficient of variation were both much higher for cycle 2 in this group indicating that performance was not similar for the two cycles. A correlation between records of individual hens for the two cycles was calculated on each of the three groups. A highly significant correlation (P s .01) was found for the groups placed in the darkhouse. A nonsignificant correlation was observed between cycles for
above and maintained in a conventional pen under natural light and temperature conditions. These three groups of hens had been equalized so that they averaged approximately the same rate of production for the 15 week pre-molt period or the first cycle. Birds in the group which was not dark-housed were partially chosen to make certain that this group was made up of birds which had been average or better producers during the first cycle. The birds were fed a 16% protein holding ration during this 8 week treatment period. They were then moved back to the cage houses and placed in the cage they occupied during the first 15 week cycle. They were again placed on an 18% protein turkey breeder ration. After a two week re-adjustment period they were lighted to re-initiate production, and then carried through a second 15 week production period or second cycle. A correlation was calculated between individual hen records for cycle 1 and cycle 2 for each experimental group to determine the degree of relationship between succeeding records.
849
RESEARCH NOTES
in a darkhouse environment and that it may not be necessary to force molt the birds. REFERENCES Hansen, R. S., 1966. The effect of frequency of rests (forced molts) on hen performance and egg quality. Poultry Sci. 45: 1089. Leighton, A. T., H. P. Van Krey, D. D. Moyer and L. M. Potter, 1971. Reproductive performance of force-molted turkey breeder hens. Poultry Sci. 50: 119-126. Moyer, D. D., A. T. Leighton and H. P. Van Krey, 1966. Force molting of infertile turkeys to improve fertility. Poultry Sci. 45: 1108. Van Krey, H. P., A. T. Leighton and D. D. Moyer, 1967. Force molting of turkeys to obtain a second season of production. Poultry Sci. 46: 1331. Woodard, A. E., H. Abplanalp and W. O. Wilson, 1969. Repeated cycles of egg production within one year in the Chukar partridge. Poultry Sci. 48: 1893. Woodard, A. E., H. Abplanalp and W. O. Wilson, 1970. Induced cycles of egg production in the Chukar partridge. Poultry Sci. 49: 713-717.
Nunc Dimittis Elliot Kimball Elliot Kimball died in Jamaica, New York, on September 1, 1973, at the age of 74. A number of his papers on plumage genetics were published in Poultry Science in the 1950's and early 1960's. He was self-educated in the classics and was master of an unusually large vocabulary which was reflected
in his writings. Mr. Kimball was a proficient amateur painter, mineralogist, and printer, and was a ghost writer of note. He was a Sherlock Holmes scholar and his monograph "Watsoniana" is now a collector's item.
JANUARY 27-30. SOUTHEASTERN-INTERNATIONAL POULTRY TRADE SHOW, ATLANTA CIVIC CENTER, ATLANTA, GEORGIA. FEBRUARY 4-8. AUSTRALASIAN POULTRY SCIENCE CONVENTION, HOBART, TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA. FEBRUARY 14-16. PACIFIC COAST RENDERERS ASSOCIATION CONVENTION, CAMELBACK INN, SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA. MARCH 4-9. PACIFIC EGG AND POULTRY ASSOCIATION CONVENTION AND EXPOSITION, DISNEYLAND HOTEL AND CONVENTION CENTER, ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at East Tennessee State University on May 27, 2015
the group molted but not darkhoused. These results would indicate that birds recycled in a darkhouse, whether molted or not, should be expected to perform similarly from one cycle to the next. Although not demonstrated in Table 1, observation of individual hen records would indicate that only good producers should be recycled since poor producers in a first cycle tended to be poor producers in additional cycles. Attempts were made to cycle the hens for a third period of production. The hens contacted mycoplasma while in the darkhouse and subsequently suffered high mortality. The birds with good production records that recovered were moved to cages after darkhouse treatment and observed. Many of these birds laid at rates similar to that observed for cycle 2. This study clearly indicates that turkey hens to be recycled should be maintained