Show 7 Ie I Y V j t Turkey Days r Draws H 11 I To A Close i Perhaps the greatest change has come in our understanding of the needs of calcium and phosphorus for turkeys between the ages of eight weeks and maturity maturity maturity ma ma- James McGinnis poultry nutritionist Washington State University said Wednesday morning Speaking at the annual Utah State Turkey Days sponsored jointly by the Utah turkey industry industry in in- Snow College and the Utah State University Prof McGinnis McGinnis Mc Mc- Ginnis said that level of both calcium calcium cal cal- and phosphorus in in excess excess of needs has in the past been used It is estimated he said that application of our knowledge knowledge know knowledge know know- ledge concerning calcium and phosphorus requirements from eight weeks to maturity could save turkey growers as much as I five to seven cents a bird in feed costs a l Donald C. C Dobson program 1 chairman and nutritionist said that roosts and roof or orrange orrange orrange range shelter in a range operation operation operation opera opera- I tion study contributed to breast l blister incidence in turkeys and that birds raised on normal I packed soil had a high incidence to blisters Birds raised in pens where the soil was tilled after each rain storm has a significant significant t cant reduction in breast blisters I he reported 4 Birds grown on range but confined confined confined con- con fined in a range shelter at night C had a lower incidence of blisters blisters blisters blis blis- he said R. R C. C Western Animal Industry technical veterinarian told the turkey growers that total mortality in the turkey from hatching until market is approximately approximately approximately 10 Nearly half of this mortality he said occurs during the first four weeks of the life A second rise in mortality occurs between 12 and 16 weeks of age a period generally associated with physiological changes in the turkey Infertility and a relatively short reproductive life are unique unique unique uni uni- que characteristics of turkey reproduction reproduction reproduction re re- re- re production said Dr Elmer C C. Clark Extension Services poultry specialist As turkey growers become more concerned with year-round year production production production tion these reproductive problems problems probe lems are of even greater practical practical practical and economic importance to the turkey industry Dr Don W. W Thomas Extension Extension Extension Exten Exten- sion veterinarian reported the turkey industry has an outstanding ing record of controlling Salo- Salo There isn't another industry doing or that has done doneas as much save the chicken industry industry industry in in- in controlling this complex complex complex com com- plex disease from spreading inthe in inthe inthe the industry as well as its role in human health Control he said has been gained gained gained gain gain- ed through blood testing and eliminating reactors gating eggs fumigation and over all sanitation in the ind indus indus- s- s try A Weber County turkey grower grow grow- er and processor Reed Wight was honored as Utah's Turkey- Turkey man of the Year The award was presented at atthe atthe atthe the Wednesday evening Jan smorgasbord a highlight of the Turkey Days program Mr Wight was one of several honored at the smorgasbord Others honored included fo four r- r Sanpete County H 4 and FF A youths who placed birds in the junior division of the National Turkey Show in Omaha They were James and Garth Christensen Christen Christen- sen and Ross Blackham Moroni and Ronde Reed Larsen Ephraim Eph Eph- raim James McGinnis poultry nutritionist nutritionist nu nu- Washington State University University University Uni Uni- told the on Thursday the protein requirement requirement requirement require require- ment actually changes rather continually from hatching to maturity The maximum level needed by young turkeys drops from 30 28 per cent to approximately 12 10 per cent as the birds approach maturity he said Making use of this information on changing protein needs in raising turkeys from hatching to market age can mean significant savings in feed costs for producing turkey meat The information he said also shows that hens and toms have different protein requirements at atthe atthe atthe the same age probably due to differences in growth rate and ages when mature weight is reached Dr Royal A A. Bagley veterinarian veterinarian veterinarian arian Moroni Feed Company discussed Nutrition and Diseases of Turkeys from a standpoint that today's growers are faced with the ever increasing rob of maintaining a healthy grOwing growing growing grow grOw- ing turkey in an age of more concentrated numbers of turkeys in a more limited area He said proper nutrition is the key to an economical production of turkey meat but a turkey must have healthy intestines intestines es and anda a healthy body to be able to utilize the feed nutrients found in today's modern turkey ration Dr Donald C C C. Dobson nutritionist said the downgrading grad down ing of turkeys because of defects which necessitate the removal of the skin is very costly to the turkey industry He reported that studies have been conducted by at the Snow Field Station on management management management manage manage- ment practices that will reduce the loss He said the problem is with the male bird not the fe fe- fe- fe male In areas that breast blisters on male turkeys are a problem he said it has been found that physical facilities such as type of range housing soil conditions and season when birds are moved to range all ll contribute to the incidence e of breast blister and that confined rearing will reduce the incident of breast blister |