Production

Once in production, birds must be managed properly so male birds produce high quality semen, and female birds lay high quality eggs. Nutrition and lighting schedules each play an important role in helping your birds perform to full potential. After laying, eggs must be inspected and handled correctly to maximum hatching ability.

Male Management

Proper handling of male turkeys during semen collection

Artificial insemination is a routine practice in the turkey breeder industry implemented in order to ensure high levels of fertility when performed by skilled staff. Male turkey management includes proper methods of efficient and welfare-friendly handling.

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Semen quality

Good quality semen can be identified by color and consistency. By collecting and identifying good quality semen, expected fertility rates can be achieved.

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Semen storage and handling

Proper semen storage and handling are essential to avoid any significant drop in fertility or hatchability. Learn the best guidelines for the storage of top quality semen.

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Male lighting guidelines

A lighting program for toms that are ready for production includes specifications for hours of light and light intensity

Click here to learn more on male lighting - housed on a lay farm

Click here to learn more on male lighting - housed on a stud farm

Female Management

Artificial insemination essentials

Artificial Insemination is crucial to ensuring the production of fertile eggs. Learn the four key areas of focus to ensure successful insemination.

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Broodiness in turkeys

An appropriate broody program will always be a good investment towards the profitability of a breeder flock. To manage this issue, broody prevention methods are more effective than trying to control broodiness after the fact.

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Nest training to avoid floor egg production

Eggs that are laid outside the nest pose a higher risk of bacterial contamination. Proper pre-lay conditioning of hens and nest training in the first weeks should prevent floor eggs.

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Nutrition

Nutrient guidelines for production

During the production phase, nutrient guidelines aim to ensure maximum egg production and hatch from female birds and maximum semen production from male birds.

Click here to view PS nutrient guidelines for production (Americas)

Click here to view PS nutrient guidelines for production (EMEA)

Vitamin and trace mineral supplementation guidelines

When formulating your birds' diet, from rearing to production, it is important to consider vitamin and trace mineral supplementation

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Male breeder weight control program

From week 16 on, it is important that male breeder turkeys are monitored for weight control. Toms that are too heavy or too light will not perform to their full potential.

Click to download the guidelines in KG

Click to download the guidelines in LB

Eggs

Cull eggs: what to expect and how to reduce the incidence

In any flock, hens will produce a small percentage of cull eggs (eggs that are not suitable for sale or incubation). Learn to identify a cull egg and how to reduce the incidence of cull eggs within an average parent stock hen flock.

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Egg handling essentials

The hatchery depends on lay farms to provide quality fertile eggs. Learn the four key areas of focus for on-farm egg handling that will ensure top quality results, every time.

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Factors affecting egg shell quality

Shell quality may be affected by physiological, nutritional, and mechanical factors. Good quality eggs will go on to hatch good quality poults.

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