Effect of dietary manipulation on production, reproduction and immunocompetence traits in turkey breeder hens

Abstract

Turkey breeder hens (200) and viable toms (24) of 30–35 weeks of age of small white variety were distributed into 2 treatment groups having 4 replicates of 25 hens and 3 toms in each treatment. First four replicates were offered turkey breeder diet (diet A) (NRC 1994) and other 4 replicates were offered high immune diet (diet B) having 115% amino acids, 1% each omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, retinol- 4.95 mg, DL-a-tocopherol- 199.86 mg, ascorbic acid –150 mg, selenium- 0.5 mg and zinc–118 mg / kg diet for 8 week duration. After 6 weeks of experimental feeding, 2 replicates from each treatment groups were vaccinated with ND (R₂B) vaccine. Average egg weight of birds fed diet B was significantly higher after 6 weeks of experimental feeding than diet A. Per cent fertility and per cent hatchability on total egg set basis was better in the birds fed diet B than diet A. Chicks hatched from the birds fed diet B were heavier than the birds fed diet A. Total immunoglobulins, IgG and IgM response to sheep red blood cells were also higher in the diet B than diet A. Birds fed diet B had better cell-mediated immune response than birds fed diet A. Birds fed diet B had significantly higher HI titer against R₂B vaccination than those fed diet A at 7 days post vaccination. Hence, it may be concluded that turkey breeders may be fed high immune diet to enhance egg weight, chick weight, fertility, hatchability and immune response.