Finishing Market Turkeys with Estrogens

Abstract THE selection of turkey breeding stock has resulted in improvement of body conformation, growth rate, and economy of growth. A natural consequence of this selection has been to increase the average body size. Many toms, when properly finished for market, are discriminated against because of their large size. Lower market prices for these birds have in many cases offset the advantages of economical production. This investigation was undertaken to test the value of feeding synthetic estrogens to fatten fast-growing turkeys on range before they reach normal market size. The influence of subcutaneously implanted diethylstilbestrol pellets on fat deposition in turkeys was reported by Lorenz (1944). Implantation of three pellets in turkeys which varied in age from 110 to 166 days resulted in increased fattening as measured by the weight of abdominal adipose tissue. Maximum increment of extra adipose tissue cocurred after 44 days of treatment. The treatment had no consistent . . .