Effect of Triticale on Performance and Blood Chemistry of Commercial Growing Turkeys

A trial was conducted to study the performance of male broiler turkeys fed diets with five different levels of triticale replaced for corn (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%). Each diet was fed to five groups of twelve male birds each. The diets were provided isocalric and isonitrogenous for each period of 30-53, 54-83, 84-94 and 95-116 day of age. Feed and water were fed ad-libitum. Similar weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion were observed in birds fed control or diets contained up to 75% triticale replaced for corn. However, the average daily weight gain decreased, feed intake and feed conversion were increased when 100% of corn was replaced with triticale during all periods (P<0.05). Whereas birds fed triticale contained diets showed a decrease in carcass yield, increase in small intestine and large intestine weights and an increase in blood serum TG and decrease in HDL and LDL when measured at 116 d of age (p<0.05). In conclusion, this study revealed that grower and finisher diets containing up to 35-50% of triticale have no negative effect on turkey performance.