Physiological characteristics of a molt and second cycle of egg laying in turkey breeder hens. 1986

W T Cleaver, and V L Christensen, and J F Ort

Large White turkey hens were housed in light-controlled pens in molting experiments. In each experiment, a group of hens was molted (MO) and nonmolted control hens (CON) were maintained in an adjacent room. Body weight and absolute and relative weights (g organ weight/100 g body weight) of the ovary with ova, oviduct, and liver were observed in MO and CON throughout the molting period and after photostimulation. Further determinations were made of the percentage of liver dry matter (PLDM) and ash (PLA). The MO hens lost body weight during feed deprivation but regained it and continued to gain body weight until they were heavier at the beginning of the second cycle than at the end of the first cycle. Hematocrit and body temperature of MO hens exhibited significant (p less than or equal to .05) changes during molt. Hen-day egg production averaged 44.7% +/- 1.3 during the second cycle. Mean value for eggs per hen-housed was 62.6 +/- 1.8. Egg weight remained constant (96.8g +/- .2 g) and egg specific gravity averaged 1.076 +/- .0001 in MO hens. The molt was characterized by significantly (P less than or equal to .05) reduced relative liver weight during feed deprivation, decreased relative ovary and oviduct weights that did not begin to increase until after photostimulation. No consistent differences were observed in PLDM or PLA.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010058 Oviposition The process of laying or shedding fully developed eggs (OVA) from the female body. The term is usually used for certain INSECTS or FISHES with an organ called ovipositor where eggs are stored or deposited before expulsion from the body. Larviposition,Larvipositions,Ovipositions
D005241 Feathers Flat keratinous structures found on the skin surface of birds. Feathers are made partly of a hollow shaft fringed with barbs. They constitute the plumage. Feather
D005260 Female Females
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014422 Turkeys Large woodland game BIRDS in the subfamily Meleagridinae, family Phasianidae, order GALLIFORMES. Formerly they were considered a distinct family, Melegrididae. Meleagridinae,Meleagrididae

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