Market turkey performance affected by floor type and brooding method

Two experiments with 320 Large White male turkeys (Nicholas strain) investigated the effect of partial replacement of litter with different types of slotted flooring (fiberglass, concrete, or wood in Experiment 1 and polyvinyl chloride pipe, concrete, or wood in Experiment 2) and the effect of brooding method (cage or floor) on later growing performance. Growth, mortality, feed efficiency, and foot pad dermatitis were not affected by partial replacement of the litter floor area with slotted flooring. Excreta buildup due to narrow slot width was a problem in Experiment 1. Turkeys reared on deep litter had greater breast blister scores than turkeys reared on the wider-slotted flooring in Experiment 2. Slotted flooring reduced litter moisture in both experiments. Cage-brooded turkeys in Experiment 1 were heavier than floor-brooded turkeys at three weeks of age, had greater mortality, and in Experiment 2 had more breast blisters.