COMPARISON OF 2 LIGHTING REGIMENS AND DRINKER CLEANING PROGRAMS ON THE PERFORMANCE AND INCIDENCE OF LEG ABNORMALITIES IN TURKEY MALES

1. Turkey males subjected to a low intensity step-down (LISD) lighting program showed significantly heavier body weights after 20 weeks of age and significantly better feed conversions after 14 weeks of age compared with males reared in a high intensity step-up lighting (HISU) program. 2. Although both nonchilled and chilled carcass weights were higher, the dressing percentages were lower for males of the LISD lighting regimen. 3. Males of the HISU lighting program had significantly fewer leg abnormalities, shorter tarso-metatarsi, lighter drumstick weights, and lighter tibia weights. 4. Males on the HISU lighting program from 15 to 19 weeks of age had larger testes; however, after 20 weeks of age they were larger in males on the LISD lighting regimen. 5. Cleaning and disinfecting the drinking troughs daily rather than weekly had no effect on any production variable measured.