Increased egg production in juvenile turkey hens after active immunization with vasoactive intestinal peptide

Juvenile turkey hens were actively immunized against vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) prior to photostimulation to evaluate its effect on enhancing egg production. VIP antibody titers were generated in the VIP immunized hens and a greater rate of egg production per hen was observed compared to controls. In addition, the first egg laying cycle was extended for an additional 7 wk without a significant decline in egg production. Over a 27-wk period, 116 settable eggs per hen were produced from the VIP immunized hens as compared to 102 and 90 eggs for the keyhole limpet hemocyanin and saline control groups, respectively. Based on the increased egg production and the extension of the first egg laying cycle, this experiment demonstrates that VIP immunization of turkey hens is potentially economically relevant.