Effects of dietary calcium and phosphorus regimen on growth performance, bone strength and carcass quality and yield of large white tom turkeys

An experiment was conducted to estimate the calcium (Ca) and nonphytate phosphorus (npP) levels needed for toms in the starter (ST) (3-9 wk of age) and the grower/finisher (G/F) (9-15/15-17 wk of age) periods to support growth performance, bone breaking strength and carcass parameters. After 3 wk of group brooding, poults (B.U.T.) were divided into treatment (trt) pens and fed pellets containing Ca and npP at approximately NRC requirements (3 wk interval basis) or at typical industry (IND) levels (breeder recommendations). At 9 wk of age, birds from each ST trt were fed either a low npP (75% of NRC requirement) diet, the NRC recommended level, or an IND level of npP (Ca:npP=2:1 for all trts) until marketed at 17 wk of age. The birds were weighed every 3 wks and at 17 wk of age. Feed intake was estimated by feed disappearance to calculate feed efficiency. There were 15 pens of 31 birds/pen for each trt in the ST period and 5 pens for each of the 6 trt combinations during the G/F period. Three toms/pen were selected at 15 and 17 wk for bone and component yield measurements. All birds from 3 pens/trt were judged for a walking score (range 1-5, 5 best) during the 17th wk. There was no difference in body weight or feed intake in the ST period. Body weight was decreased when the NRC ST-low npP G/F trt was fed relative to the products in this experiment, especially, for FTM. There was an average moisture reduction of 2.4% for both PBMs and FTMs used in this experiment

Effect of increasing dietary calcium and phosphorus on bone development in growing turkeys

In the turkey production industry (IND, it is standard practice to feed higher levels of Ca and non-phytate Phosphorus (npP) than the National Research Council (NRC) recommendations, in order to promote the growth of a stronger skeleton. Elevated dietary npP leads to an increase in P content in the manure, which is undesirable due to resulting environmental contamination, particularly eutrification of the water. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of varying concentrations of dietary Ca and npP on bone size, density and breaking strength in turkeys