PROTEIN, LIPID AND GLYCOGEN STORES IN NEWLY-HATCHED TURKEY (MELEAGRIS-GALLOPAVO) POULTS AS AFFECTED BY POSTHATCH STRESSORS AND HOLDING TIME

The effects of post-hatch stressors (commercial hatchery services whic h included cloacal inspection to determine sex, snood removal, and bea k the toe trimming) and length of holding without feed or water (24 or 48 hr) on carcass and yolk sac contents of moisture, protein, and lip id in turkey poults were studied. In a separate experiment, the effect s of the above stressors and holding (48 hr) on carcass glycogen were measured. Both stressors and holding reduced carcass weight and absolu te moisture content. The per cent carcass moisture declined with holdi ng in stressed but not in non-stressed poults. Stressors lowered the a bsolute amount of carcass protein but not carcass lipid. Holding lower ed absolute amounts of both carcass protein and lipid. Stressors had n o effect on absolute amounts of nutrients in yolk. Yolk weight and tot al protein, lipid, and moisture declined with holding, but the changes were such that percentage moisture was higher at 48 hr. Both glycogen concentration and total glycogen in carcass declined with 48 hr holdi ng, but stressors were without effect.