Thomason D M, Leighton A T, Mason J P
Poult Sci. 1976 Jul;55(4):1343-55. doi: 10.3382/ps.0551343.
The study presented was designed to determine the effects of laying cages and conventional litter floors, pen temperatures of 12.8 degrees, 21.1 degrees and 29.4 degrees C., and chelated (EDTA-Zn) vs. nonchelated trace mineral mixes on the reproductive performance of yearling force-molted and young Large White female turkeys. Reproductive performance, as measured by egg production, settable eggs, fertility and hatchability of fertile eggs, was not significantly different between young and yearling hens. Females fed a chelated trace mineral mix had a higher percentage of settable eggs, greater feed consumption and thicker egg shells. Females in laying cages laid at a higher rate, ate more feed, and weighed more than those on conventional floors. Significant differences were not observed between the two pen environments for hatchability of fertile eggs or egg weight. The percentages of settable eggs and of fertile eggs were lower when females were maintained in cages. A constant temperature of 29.4 degrees C. reduced egg production below that obtained from females maintained at 12.8 degrees and 21.1 degrees C. The high pen temperature also caused lower body and egg weights, more birds out of production and an increased incidence of molting. Feed consumption decreased with increasing pen temperatures. Fertility, hatchability, percentage of settable eggs and egg shell thickness were unaffected by the imposed temperature environments. Temperatures of 12.8 degrees and 21.1 degrees C. yielded comparable results for all reproductive parameters measured. Within the range of temperatures studied, results obtained suggest that optimum reproductive performance can be obtained with breeder turkeys when environmental temperatures are maintained between 12.8 degrees and 21.1 degrees C.
本研究旨在确定产蛋笼与传统垫料地面、12.8摄氏度、21.1摄氏度和29.4摄氏度的禽舍温度以及螯合（乙二胺四乙酸锌）与非螯合微量矿物质预混料对一岁强制换羽和年轻大白母火鸡繁殖性能的影响。通过产蛋量、可孵化蛋、受精率和受精卵孵化率衡量的繁殖性能，在年轻母鸡和一岁母鸡之间没有显著差异。饲喂螯合微量矿物质预混料的母鸡可孵化蛋的比例更高、采食量更大且蛋壳更厚。产蛋笼中的母鸡产蛋率更高、采食更多饲料且体重比传统地面饲养的母鸡更重。在两种禽舍环境下，受精卵孵化率或蛋重未观察到显著差异。当母鸡饲养在笼子里时，可孵化蛋和受精卵的比例较低。29.4摄氏度的恒定温度使产蛋量低于饲养在12.8摄氏度和21.1摄氏度的母鸡。较高的禽舍温度还导致体重和蛋重降低、停产的母鸡增多以及换羽发生率增加。采食量随禽舍温度升高而降低。受精率、孵化率、可孵化蛋比例和蛋壳厚度不受设定温度环境的影响。对于所测量的所有繁殖参数，12.8摄氏度和21.1摄氏度的温度产生了可比的结果。在所研究的温度范围内，所得结果表明，当环境温度保持在12.8摄氏度至21.1摄氏度之间时，种用火鸡可获得最佳繁殖性能。
