Effect of light intensity, litter source, and litter management on the incidence of leg abnormalities and performance of male turkeys.

Two trials were conducted to evaluate the performance of male turkeys reared in either a low or high intensity lighting regimen. Turkeys were also subjected to the following four litter treatments: hardwood shavings intensively managed; hardwood shavings unmanaged; rice hulls intensively managed; and rice hulls unmanaged. Male turkeys reared in high intensity light (20 lx) had significantly heavier body weights, poorer feed to gain ratios, shorter tarsometatarsal bones, earlier growth plate closure, heavier testes, and were less active during the times of behavioral observations than male turkeys reared in low intensity light (2.5 lx). The width of the tarsometatarsal bone, mortality, and the incidence of leg abnormalities and tibial dyschondroplasia were unaffected by lighting. Poor litter conditions or type of litter (hardwood shavings vs. rice hulls) had no effect on the performance of male turkeys.(u3)