Restricted water access time as a means of growth control in turkey tom breeder candidates

Seventeen-wk-old turkey tom breeder candidates were allowed access to water for 4 h each day, as 2 x 2-h periods, to 21 wk. After this time, water access was reduced to 1.5 h/day (21 to 25 wk) and subsequently to 1 h/day (25 to 33 wk). Access time was reduced over time, as the earlier water access time allocation was considered excessive. With 1-h access time each day (2 x 30 min) there were no behavioral signs of thirst, and toms did not use the total time allocation for drinking. Restricted access to water reduced body weight from 25 to 33 wk of age (P less than .05). This BW reduction was accompanied by a nonsignificant reduction in feed intake. At 35 wk of age, semen weight (P less than .05) and sperm count (P less than .01) was increased for toms previously subjected to restricted water-access time. It is concluded that restriction of time that toms are allowed to drink can be used to augment other methods used in control of body weight.