RESPONSE OF 2 STRAINS OF LARGE WHITE MALE TURKEYS TO AMINO-ACID LEVELS WHEN DIETS ARE CHANGED AT 3 OR 4-WEEK INTERVALS

A study was conducted to evaluate the amino acid recommendations of th e NRC (1994) when diets were changed at 3- or 4-wk intervals. Diets fo rmulated to provide from 90 to 115% of recommended amino acid levels w ere fed to Nicholas (NIC) and British United Turkey (BUT) Large White males from day-old to 24 wk of age; samples of turkeys were processed at 18 and 24 wk. Results indicated that the amino acid levels suggeste d by NRC are adequate to support maximum body weight gain, feed conver sion, and dressing percentage of Large White males grown to 18 or 24 w k when fed on 4-wk intervals. An approximately 5% higher level of amin o acids was required to maximize breast yield. When feeds were changed at 3-wk intervals, higher levels of amino acids were required to maxi mize performance; however, there did not seem to be any difference in the response of the two strains of turkeys to different levels of amin o acids in this study.