THE EFFECTIVENESS OF REARING TURKEYS MEDIUM CROSSES IN KBI-2.00.000 CAGES

Abstract

Increasing the efficiency in production of turkey breeding products is possible due to the cage rearing of turkey poults. The aim of the research was to determine the optimal density in the placement of “Victoria” and “Obilnensky 24” (hereinafter “O₂₄”) turkey medium crosses in KBI-2.00.000 cages and to study their growth, slaughter qualities, production costs during poultry feeding. The studies were conducted under the production conditions of SCZOSP SGC on hybrid turkey poults of the domestic Victoria and O₂₄ crosses in a pen with KBI-2.00.000 cage equipment from 8 weeks of age to 20 weeks for females and up to 22 weeks for males. Turkey poults were reared with different placement areas without dividing by sex on three tiers of the cage: 5, 6, 7 turkey poult birds for Victoria Cross and 7 birds for O₂₄ Cross. With the survival rate of turkey poults in all test groups at 100% for a period of 8-20 weeks, the average live weight of female turkey poults was 6,368; 6,647; 6,836; 6,211kg at 20 weeks, respectively. The live weight of male turkey poults was from the 1^st to the 4^th group, respectively 7,623; 8,591; 9,018; 7,840 kg. Feed conversion per 1 kg of live weight gain for the Victoria Cross was 3,99; 3,41; 3,64 kg. When rearing young turkeys in cages, optimal variants for placement density in the 2^nd group, 6 birds in the section (1000 cm²) were identified, which allows to increase the survival rate of turkey stock, reduce feed conversion to 3,41 kg per 1 kg of live weight gain, increase the productivity index to 371,09 units, reduce the number of pens reducing the cost of their construction and equipment, increase the use efficiency of production areas compared to pen fattening.