Effect of stocking density vis-à-vis dietary protein supply on growth performance, immune-competence and cost economics of growing turkey poults

IMTIYAJ ALI; S MAJUMDAR; NASIR AKBAR MIR; A B MANDAL; S K BHANJA; AKSHAT GOEL; MANISH MEHRA

doi:10.56093/ijans.v88i7.81475

Authors

IMTIYAJ ALI MVSc Scholar, ICAR-Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh 243 122 India
S MAJUMDAR Principal Scientist, ICAR-Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh 243 122 India
NASIR AKBAR MIR Research Associate, ICAR-Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh 243 122 India
A B MANDAL Principal Scientist, ICAR-Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh 243 122 India
S K BHANJA Principal Scientist, ICAR-Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh 243 122 India
AKSHAT GOEL Research Associate, ICAR-Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh 243 122 India
MANISH MEHRA Research Associate, ICAR-Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh 243 122 India

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijans.v88i7.81475

Keywords:

Cost economics, Immunity, Poult performance, Protein level, Stocking density, Turkey poults

Abstract

A 10-week biological experiment was undertaken to evaluate the response of Beltsvilie Small White turkey poults to different floor space (0.6, 0.8, and 1.0 ft2/bird) and dietary protein levels (22%, 24% and 26% with similar dietary energy) in terms of growth performance, immune response, and serum biochemistry, following 3 × 3 factorial design. Each treatment was allocated 4 replicates out of which one replicate was maintained for the replacement of the dead birds, if any, to maintain the required stocking density. The body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI) and performance index (PI) of poults was significantly higher in 1.0 ft² floor space during 0–4 weeks and 4–10 weeks of age. Similarly, higher BWG, FI, and PI were observed at 26% dietary protein level. The interaction effect between stocking density and protein levels during 0–4 week resulted in significantly higher FI at 0.8 ft² floor space with 26% protein level and 1.0 ft² floor space with 24% as well as 26% protein level. The feed conversion ratio (FCR), mortality pattern, immune response and immune organ weights of poults did not reveal any significant treatment effect. The feed cost/bird increased linearly with increasing floor space, and feed cost/kg weight gain and feed cost/ kg meat increased linearly with increasing protein levels. However, profit potential per meter square decreased linearly with decreasing stocking density. The study concluded that increasing the stocking density and decreasing the dietary protein level decrease the performance of poults, but the profit potential per meter square increases with increasing stocking density. Thus, the study recommends either the floor space of 0.8 ft²/bird with 26% dietary protein level or the floor space of 1.0 sq²/bird with 24% dietary protein level for growing turkey poults.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abdel-Rahman M A. 2005. Study on the effect of stocking density and floor space allowance on behaviour, health and productivity of turkey broilers. Assiut Veterinary Medical Journal 51(104): 1–13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21608/avmj.2005.167011

Agarwal S K, Bhanja S K, Majumdar S and Raj Narayan. 2003. Effect of floor space on the performance of broiler quails at different seasons. Journal of Applied Animal Research 23(2): 185–94. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09712119.2003.9706420

Ahuja S D, Bandyopadhyay U K, Kundu A and Gopal R. 1992. Influence of stocking density and system of housing on growth characters in Japanese quail. Indian Journal of Poultry Science 27(4): 193–97.

Al-Homidan A and Robertson J F. 2007. The effect of stocking density and litter type on ammonia, dust, carbon dioxide concentration on broiler performance. Egypt Poultry Science 24: 37–51.

Beg M A H, Baqui M A, Sarker N R and Hossain M M. 2011. Effect of stocking density and feeding regime on performance of broiler chicken in summer season. International Journal of Poultry Science 10(5): 365–75. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3923/ijps.2011.365.375

Bessei W and Gunthner P. 2006. Water intake in growing turkeys. World Poultry 22: 10–12.

Bhanja S K, Agarwal S K and Majumdar S. 2006. Effect of cage floor space on the egg production performance of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) during winter. Indian Journal of Poultry Science 41(2): 205–07.

Bird J M. 1955. Performance of growing chicken. Journal of Poultry Science 34: 1163–64. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.0341163

Buijs S L, Keeling S, Rettenbacher E, Van Poucke and Tuyttens F A M. 2009. Stocking density effects on broiler welfare: Identifying sensitive ranges for different indicators. Poultry Science 88: 1536–43. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.2009-00007

Cheema M A, Qureshi M A and Havenstein G B. 2003. A comparison of the immune response of a 2001 commercial broiler with a 1957 random bred broiler strain when fed representative 1957 and 2001 broiler diets. Poultry Science 82(10): 1519–29. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ps/82.10.1519

Dozier W A, Thaxton J P, Purswell J L, Olanrewajju H A, Branton S L and Roush W B. 2006. Stocking density effects on male broilers grown to 1.8 kilograms of body weight. Poultry Science 85(2): 344–51. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ps/85.2.344

Duncan D B. 1955. Multiple range and multiple F test. Biometrics 11: 1–42. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/3001478

Feddes J J, Emmanuel E J and Zuidhoft M J. 2002. Broiler performance, body weight variance, feed and water intake and carcass quality at different stocking densities. Poultry Science 81(6): 774–79. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ps/81.6.774

Hassan Kermanshahi, Nemat Ziaei and Pilevar M. 2011. Effect of dietary crude protein fluctuation on performance, blood parameters and nutrients retention in broiler chicken during starter period. Global Veterinaria 6(2): 162–67.

Heckert R A, Estevez I, Russek-Cohen E and Pettit-Riley R. 2002. Effects of density and perch availability on the immune status of broilers. Poultry Science 81: 451–57. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ps/81.4.451

Houshmand M, Azhar K, Zulkifli B I M and Kamyab A. 2012. Effects of prebiotic, protein level, and stocking density on performance, immunity, and stress indicators of broilers. Poultry Science 91: 393–401. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.2010-01050

Jackson S, Summers J D and Leeson S. 1982. Effect of dietary protein and energy on broiler performance and production costs. Poultry Science 61: 2232–40. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.0612232

Kadam M M, Mandal A B, Bhanja S K and Kaur S. 2007. Reducing protein through supplementation of limiting amino acids in maize or sorghum based diets for growth and immunecompetence of broiler chickens. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 77(9): 912–17.

Kidd M T, Gerard P D, Heger J, Kerr B J, Rowe D, Sistani K and Buranham D J. 2001. Threonine and crude protein response in broiler chicks. Animal Feed Science and Technology 94(2): 57–64. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0377-8401(01)00301-7

Kijowsk J, Mikoajczak A, Kwitowski Nencki J and Sliga M. 2005. Traditional rearing and slaughter of christmas Turkeys in England. Polish Journal of Food and Nutrition Science 14(1): 75–78.

Majumdar S, Tyagi P K, Bhanja S K, Agrawal S K and Singh R P. 2002. Growth performance and carcass characteristics of turkey poults maintained at different protein and energy levels during winter. Indian Journal of Poultry Science 37(2): 236–40.

Majumdar S, Bhanja S K, Singh R P and Agarwal S K. 2003. Performance of turkey poults at different cage density during summer. Indian Journal of Veterinary Research 12(2): 26– 33.

Marchewka J, Watanabe T T N, Ferrante V and Estevez I. 2013. Review of the social and environmental factors affecting the behavior and welfare of turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo). Poultry Science 92(6): 1467–73. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.2012-02943

Mehmet Kenan. 2008. The effect of stocking density on stress reaction in broiler chickens during summer. Turkish Journal of Veterinary and Animal Science 32(1): 31–36.

N R C. 1994. Nutrient Requirements of Poultry. 9th ed. National Academy of Science, National Research Council, Washington, DC, USA.

Nahashon S N, Adefope N and Wright D. 2011. Effect of floor density on growth performance of Pearl Grey Guinea Fowl replacement pullets. Poultry Science 90: 1371–78. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.2010-01216

Patterson P H and Siegel H S. 1998. Impact of cage density on pullet performance and blood parameters of stress. Poultry Science 77(1): 32–40. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ps/77.1.32

Pattison M, Mcmullin P F, Bradbury J M and Alexander D J. 2008. Poultry Diseases. 6th edn. Elsevier Ltd, Edinburgh, UK.

Seker I, Selim K and Metin B A. 2009. Effect of group size on fattening performance, mortality rate, slaughter and carcass characteristics in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances 8(4): 688–93.

Simitzis P E, Kalogeraki E, Goliomytis M, Charismiadou M A, Triantaphyllopoulos K, Ayoutanti A, Niforou K, Hager- Theodorides A L and Deligeorgis S G. 2012. Impact of stocking density on broiler growth performance, meat characteristics, behavioural components and indicators of physiological and oxidative stress. British Poultry Science 53(6): 721–30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00071668.2012.745930

Snedecor G W and Cochran W G. 1989. Statistical Methods. 8th edition. Lowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa (Reprinted in 1994, East-West Press Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi).

Thomas D G, Ravindran V, Thomas D V, Camden B J, Cottam Y H, Morel P C H and Cook C J. 2004. Influence of stocking density on performance, carcass characteristics and selected welfare indicators of broiler chickens. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 52: 76–81. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00480169.2004.36408

Tyagi P K. 2001. The nutritional requirement of commercial turkeys, pp 18–24. Modern Turkey Production and Management. (Ed.) Roy A K D. Turkey Research Unit, Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar, India.

Yausef Al-Ribdawi and Singh R A. 1989. Effect of protein level and stocking density on broiler performance in different seasons. Indian Journal of Poultry Science 24(1): 40–45.

Yung L C, Huang C C, How C Y, Chung H J, Tsao C M and Cheng L D. 2001. Effects of different dietary protein and energy levels on the growth performance, blood characteristics and sensory panels of caponized Taiwan country chicken cockerels during finishing period. Journal of the Chinese Society of Animal Science 30(2): 81–91.