Changes in Seasonal Egg Production of Turkeys Induced Through Controlled Light Exposure and Force Moulting

Abstract

THE turkey industry has operated largely on a seasonal basis and little attention has been given to out-of-season production until the recent interest in marketing of turkey broilers. While the seasonal nature of turkey production may be attributed partly to holiday demands, weather limitations in some areas of production and the normal breeding cycle of turkeys, there is little reason to believe the pattern of production cannot be altered. There are at least two possible approaches to the problem of obtaining eggs from turkey hens for hatching purposes throughout the year. One of these is by means of genetic selection to gain persistency of egg production as has been followed by chicken breeders. The second is through possible changes in environment of young hens hatched out-of-season or yearling hens that have completed several months of lay. The second approach has been used in experiments reported herein. LITERATURE REVIEW The egg . . .