Effects of low soybean meal and low protein level diet on growth performance of Nicholas turkey

Lu Zhaoning; Yue Zenghua

doi:10.20154/j.cnki.issn1672-9692.2024.06.010

Abstract：The purpose of the experiment was to investigate the effects of low soybean meal and low protein diet on growth performance of Nicholas turkey.360 one-day-old Nicholas turkey were randomly divided into nine groups with four replicates in each group and 10 turkeys in each replicate.The experiment was divided into two stages:0～4 weeks old and 5～8 weeks old.The effects of conventional protein level diets(corn-soybean meal,corn-low soybean meal,brown rice-corn-low soybean meal),diets with protein levels were reduced from 27%to 25%(corn-soybean meal,corn-low soybean meal,brown rice-corn-low soybean meal)and diets with rprotein levels were reduced from 27%to 23%(corn-soybean meal,corn-low soybean meal and brown rice-corn-low soybean meal)on growth performance of Nicholas turkeys were studied by using 3×3 two-factor test method.The results showed that the whole-period weight gain of turkeys fed with 4%reduced protein level(corn-soybean meal type,corn-low soybean meal type,brown rice-corn-low soybean meal type)decreased significantly(P<0.05),but the feed-to-weight ratio increased significantly(P<0.05),and the feed utilization rate was poor.The study indicates that the dietary protein level of Nicholas turkey decreased from 27%to 25%at 0～4 weeks old and from 25%to 23%at 5～8 weeks old.The weight gain and feed reward of turkeys were not significantly affected,but further reduction of dietary protein level would lead to significant decline in growth performance of turkeys.