THE RELATION OF EGG SPECIFIC-GRAVITY TO THE INCIDENCE OF SPONTANEOUS CARDIOMYOPATHY IN TOM TURKEYS

The specific gravity and weight of eggs were determined for two groups of 600 eggs each, originating from Nicholas and British United Turkey of America (BUTA) turkey breeder flocks. A total of 137 Nicholas and 190 BUTA toms hatched from these eggs were used for the experiment. At days 21, 33, 40, 47, 56, and 61, toms that showed retarded growth wer e euthanatized, along with a corresponding number of normal birds. Bot h groups were measured for body weight, heart weight, separate weights of left and right ventricles, and combined atrial weight. At market a ge, the remaining toms were weighed, and the hearts were checked at pr ocessing for lesions characteristic of spontaneous turkey cardiomyopat hy (STC). STC was found in 10.2% of Nicholas and 8.4% of BUTA toms. No correlation could be found between specific gravity of eggs and incid ence of STC. Body weights of affected toms were reduced during the gro wing period. At processing, 2.8% of toms had lesions of STC, and mean body weight was 1298 g lower than average. The ratios of combined atri al weight: body weight, right ventricular weight: body weight, left ve ntricular weight: body weight, and total heart: body weight were signi ficantly higher at all times in affected toms than in controls, and th e differences were the greatest at 3 weeks of age.