Effect of nutrient density and energy to protein ratio on performance and carcase quality of small white turkeys

One thousand eight hundred Small White turkeys were fed diets of 3 nutrient densities, representing approximately 0, 30 and 90 g added fat/kg of diet, or a fourth treatment which provided increasing nutrient densities from 6 weeks of age to slaughter at 12, 13 and 14 weeks. Within each nutrient density, 4 energy to protein ratios were derived by reducing dietary protein. Each increment in nutrient density resulted in increased body weights and improved efficiency of food utilisation. Increasing energy to protein ratio resulted in linear decreases in body weights, food intake and efficiency of food utilisation. Carcase quality, as measured by carcase fat scores and percentage of grade A carcases, improved with each increment in nutrient density and declined with increasing energy to protein ratio. Progressively increasing nutrient density from 6 weeks of age resulted in body weights, efficiencies of food utilisation and carcase finishes intermediate between those of the medium and high density groups. Such a programme avoids the disadvantages of feeding high nutrient density diets through much of the growing cycle, while providing growth, efficiency of food utilisation and carcase grades approaching those produced by the full high nutrient density programme.