Dietary Restrictions During Adolescence and Subsequent Reproductive Performance of Turkey Breeder Males

Abstract A study was conducted to investigate the effect of early dietary restriction of protein and/or energy on the subsequent reproductive ability of the torn. One hundred 8-week old Large White turkey toms (April hatch) were placed at random into four floor pens of 25 each and fed the following diets: group 1, 20.6% protein with 2.4 Mcal. M.E./kg. diet 8–12 weeks, 15.3% protein with 2.68 Mcal. 12–16 weeks, 10.4% protein with 2.85 Mcal. 16–24 weeks; group 2, 20.3% protein with 2.9 Mcal. 8–12 weeks, 14.8% protein with 2.98 Mcal. 12–16 weeks, 9.8% protein with 3.27 Mcal. 16–24 weeks; group 3, 22% protein with 2.4 Mcal. 8–12 weeks, 18.9% protein with 2.57 Mcal. 12–16 weeks, 16.3% protein with 2.81 Mcal. 16–24 weeks; group 4 (control), 22% protein with 2.91 Mcal. 8–12 weeks, 19% protein with 3.03 Mcal. 12–16 weeks, 15.9% protein with 3.17 Mcal. 16–24 weeks. Beginning with the 25th week all toms received a 14.3% protein diet with 2.8 Mcal. The restriction of energy significantly reduced the percentage of males producing semen, and the restriction of energy and both protein and energy significantly depressed semen volume per male in comparison with the average produced by the control males. Other reproductive traits were not affected by early dietary controls.