Self‐selection of dietary protein and energy by turkey breeder hens

Abstract 1. An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of self‐selection of dietary protein and energy by turkey hens on reproductive performance in a warm environment. 2. Dietary self‐selection had no significant effect on egg production, egg weight, or body weight of turkey hens. 3. Fertility and hatchability of eggs produced by self‐selecting hens were significantly reduced compared to eggs from control hens fed on a complete diet. 4. Protein intake was significantly reduced among self‐selecting hens when compared to control hens fed on a complete diet (P< 0–001). 5. Food and energy intake decreased as the ambient temperature increased. Nevertheless, protein intake of self‐selecting hens increased over the course of egg production despite decreasing food intake. Therefore, self‐selecting hens preferred a diet with a greater protein content (g protein/kg diet) in the last 10 weeks of egg production than during the first 10 weeks of egg production.