Feeding turkeys corn distillers grains

Five barns occupy the turkey field-research site in UMore Park, Minnesota,
which also serves as a testing ground for about 7,600 birds.

According to
extension poultry specialist Sally Noll, researchers are looking at feeding corn
distillers grains to turkeys, which is a by-product of ethanol production. While
distilled corn is less nutritious, Noll believes that turkeys can still have a
diet of up to 30% of the ethanol byproduct.

“Turkey production is really
important to the state economically,” Noll said, adding that it is the largest
turkey producer in the country, supplying 46 million birds each year.

“We need to be involved in terms of helping the industry solve some of
its problems,” she said, noting that results could help producers be more
cost-efficient now that corn prices are increasing. This is particularly true
considering a tom turkey eats 120 pounds of feed in his lifetime, and a hen eats
about 35 pounds of feed.

Related werbsite:
Minnesota
Agricultural Experimental Station

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