Trial: Effect of decreasing calcium in turkey diets

They investigated the effects of decreasing calcium and phosphorus levels by 10-40%, compared to that in Nutrient Guidelines, in diets fed to Hybrid Converter male commercial turkeys.  Body weight, feed conversion, carcass yield, and tibia mineral levels were assessed in this 20 week trial.

The results of the trial found that calcium and phosphorus could be safely decreased below that stated in Hybrid Turkey’s 2013 Commercial Nutrient Guidelines without significant effects to body weight, feed conversion, tibia mineralization and carcass yield.  Aside from lower feed cost, feeds with lower calcium and phosphorus may result in decreased barn litter moisture content, better digestion system, health of the turkey, and improved feed mill efficiency.

Hybrid Turkeys is now repeating this trial with Converter females grown to 15 weeks of age.