Semen quality and fat accumulation in prepuberal and postpuberal male turkeys as affected by restricted feeding

Growth, semen production, and carcass fat distribution were examined in adult male turkeys subjected to feed restriction from 10 to 46 weeks of age. Turkeys were randomly assigned to one of three feeding treatments: control (ad libitum) or restricted-fed to maintain body weight at 80% (80R) or 60% (60R) of the control toms. Feed consumption for the 80R and 60R males was decreased significantly by 27.3 and 50.9%, respectively, when compared with the control males during the 10 to 46-week production period. Feed restriction resulted in a 2-week delay in semen production as evidenced by reduced testis weights and reduced semen volume at 34 weeks of age. Semen production was not affected by feed restriction at 36 or 42 weeks of age. A major change in fat accumulation was found after exposure to a stimulatory lighting regimen. The change was from a uniform weight distribution among the fat stored in the abdominal, clavicular, and back at 28 weeks to a major increase in the clavicular fat depot at 34 weeks of age. Total fat accumulation was decreased significantly by feed restriction of turkey males.