EFFECTS OF AMINO-ACID RESTRICTION DURING STARTER AND GROWER PERIODS ON SUBSEQUENT PERFORMANCE AND INCIDENCE OF LEG DISORDERS IN MALE LARGE WHITE TURKEYS

Male Nicholas Large White turkeys were fed diets formulated to meet a minimum of 100, 110, or 120% of NRC (1984) amino acid recommendations. There were three periods when 75% of recommended standards were fed: 0 to 3 wk, 0 to 6 wk, or 6 to 12 wk. A fourth (control) group was not restricted at any time. Four pens of 12 males were fed each amino acid by restriction combination. At 18 wk, leg scores were assigned to all birds and representative samples of birds processed for parts yield. All birds fed restricted diets had significantly lower BW at 18 wk tha n unrestricted controls but did not differ in feed utilization. Dietar y amino acid levels significantly influenced BW and feed utilization, but there was no interaction with restriction times. There were no sig nificant effects of amino acid levels or restriction times on incidenc e of leg disorders. Breast meat yields (quantity and percentage of car cass) were significantly influenced by both restriction time and amino acid levels. There seemed to be little if any compensatory gain follo wing amino acid restriction in these studies.