Compound feed for turkeys: types, selection and preparation

Breeding and keeping turkeys today is a fairly profitable business for many farmers, which not only brings good profits, but also allows you to get a lot of fun and pleasant moments. But getting an excellent result in this matter depends on many factors, for example, on the correct feeding of the bird. This factor, in turn, depends on the use of compound feed.

Compound feed for turkeys: types, selection and preparation

Classification

Compound feed is divided into three broad categories:

  • starting;
  • average;
  • finishing.

Starter is a compound feed that must be given to birds from the first day to the thirtieth, despite the presence of a period of 0-14 days on the bag. Such food is given exclusively dry and is usually made in the form of granules or cereals.

Compound feed for turkeys: types, selection and preparation

The grain basis for the described feed is wheat and corn. Also, this composition includes soybean and sunflower cake, which act as an additional source of fiber. In addition, there are residues from the creation of vegetable oil. In such feed, the amount of fermented substances, antioxidants, minerals is maximally balanced in the context of the age of the birds. It usually contains about 20% protein. For two weeks of life, the consumption rate of such feed per bird should be 600 g.

The average type of feed will be needed for older individuals. It has almost the same composition as the starter, except that it has a little less protein and more vitamins, as well as carbohydrates. Manufacturers recommend using such feed for turkeys that have reached the age of fifteen and up to 32 days of life, although the breeders themselves note that such a solution would be better for turkeys 30-45 days of age. For two weeks, one bird should eat about 2 kg of feed.

Compound feed for turkeys: types, selection and preparation

The final version of the compound feed is the main one. It is suitable for turkeys that are in the last stage of fattening. Usually we are talking about individuals from the 60th day of life until the moment of slaughter. It all depends on what breed this or that individual belongs to. Such feed has the same composition with a slight difference: there are more carbohydrates and fats than in the starter or average type of compound feed. In this case, there is no clear understanding of what the feed consumption should be. It is usually fed in as much quantity as the bird can eat.

Compound feed for turkeys: types, selection and preparation

There may be other categories of food, such as for laying turkeys. This food contains all the ingredients mentioned above. But there the ratio will be such that the number of eggs in turkeys is maximum. Studies have shown that when using this category of compound feed, one bird can lay up to 2 hundred eggs for the entire laying time. There will be an identical division into subspecies, with the only difference being that after the average, the bird is fed with phase feed.

Such options are intended for adults who have entered the egg-bearing period, that is, 140 days after birth. One turkey should receive about a quarter of a kilogram of feed per feeding with three distributions.

It should also be understood that a fairly small number of breeders are willing to spend significant financial resources on various types of feed. In this situation, you can find an alternative – to do them yourself. The main thing that you should clearly know is the proportions of the ingredients.

Compound feed for turkeys: types, selection and preparation

Which prepared food to choose?

It should be said that the products in question from various brands and manufacturers are presented on the market.

One of the most famous manufacturers is Purina. It has been producing food for various categories of pets for about 200 years. During this period, the company’s products have become much more perfect and satisfy the interests and requirements of consumers even more.

Compound feed for turkeys: types, selection and preparation

To form the diet of birds, a whole line of products has been developed that takes into account the needs of the body. Below is a ranking of the most popular feeds.

“Starter-1” is a starter-type compound feedused for turkey poults up to 4 weeks. Usually made in the form of cereals or granules and served dry. The composition of the described product includes various ingredients. We are talking about crushed grains of wheat and corn, as well as products that are obtained as a result of the processing of sunflower and plow, various additives and vitamins.

“Starter-2” is used for fattening turkey poults at 4-9 weeks of age. The composition here is the same as in the analogue described above, except that there are more ingredients here – complex minerals and calcium have been added.

“Starter-3” (or “Grower”) is served to broilers in the period from 10 to 15 weeks of life. There is more grain, less protein, and the amount of vitamins and carbohydrates is increased compared to the previous two types of compound feed. This allows the bird to mature faster.

Compound feed for turkeys: types, selection and preparation

Compound feed for turkeys: types, selection and preparation

“Finisher” is a compound feed that is used from the 16th week of a bird’s life. There are few minerals, but enough fiber, carbohydrates and fats.

Compound feed for turkeys: types, selection and preparation

A fairly well-known domestic brand has the name “Start”. Under this brand, high-quality compound feed is produced, which is also intended for various categories of turkeys, depending on the period of their life. All types of feed from this manufacturer have the same composition, and the difference will be only in the presence or absence of special additives.

This compound feed includes several varieties.

  • PC-11. This is a mixture in the form of small granules, it belongs to the category of complete. It is given to turkeys at 5-13 weeks of age. Ingredients such as corn, wheat, sunflower and soybean meal, fishmeal, fodder yeast, sunflower oil, limestone flour and salt are used in the creation of this feed.
  • PC-12. This type of feed is relevant for turkeys at 14-17 weeks of age. When it is created, the same components are used.
  • PC-13 is relevant for turkeys at 15-30 weeks of age.
  • PC-14 is relevant for breeding young animals. It contains ingredients such as enzyme, premix, fodder yeast, barley, limestone, fishmeal.

Compound feed for turkeys: types, selection and preparation

Also, a rather interesting solution for farmers who prefer ready-made feed will be mixtures such as:

  • Best Mix;
  • “Spassky compound feed”;
  • “Vogel”.

Compound feed for turkeys: types, selection and preparation

Compound feed for turkeys: types, selection and preparation

A rather interesting solution would be compound feed, which is produced under the Power of Nature brand. Here, in addition to the usual products that are in any compound feed, there is a whole complex of vitamins and minerals, including vitamins of categories B, A, D3, as well as useful substances and trace elements such as selenium, copper, zinc, iron and various antioxidants.

Another fairly popular compound feed among farmers is TopKorm. It is intended for young birds. After eating it, you can transfer turkey poults to a product called “Growth”, which is produced under the same brand name. It is presented in the form of cereals, which makes it possible to eat it for chickens up to 8 weeks of age. In addition to a mandatory set of vitamins and ingredients, it contains nicotinic and folic acid, as well as magnesium.

On the market you can find products that this or that bakery produces. Bakery waste becomes the basis for the production of animal feed. The most famous on the domestic market is Ramensky, which is considered almost universal and is suitable for almost any animal.

As you can see, any farmer will have plenty to choose from so that his turkeys grow quickly and gain weight.

Compound feed for turkeys: types, selection and preparation

How to make a composition with your own hands?

But not all farmers prefer to use compound feed, which can be found on the market today. The reasons for this decision may vary. For example, there is no way to constantly buy large batches of compound feed, or they doubt the naturalness of such mixtures. In any case, if you wish, you can make such a composition with your own hands.

It is worth noting that the food prepared by one’s own hands practically does not differ in composition from that made in industrial conditions, since it will contain the same components. However, you can add unusual ingredients there:

  • salt;
  • boiled egg;
  • dry leftover food from the table;
  • cottage cheese;
  • crushed shell.

Compound feed for turkeys: types, selection and preparation

It should be noted that cooking recipes are somewhat different depending on the age of the turkeys. For example, for turkey poults, whose age is up to 2 months, the recipe for preparing compound feed will be as follows:

  • soybean cake – 32%;
  • corn bran – a third of the mixture;
  • soybean extruded type – 10%;
  • sunflower cake – 9%;
  • wheat bran – 7%;
  • fish meal – 5,5%;
  • chalk – 3,5%;
  • calcium phosphate – 1,5%.

Compound feed for turkeys: types, selection and preparation

If we talk about the recipe for turkeys up to 4 months, then the indicators of the content of various elements will be slightly different:

  • corn bran – 40%;
  • wheat – about 18%;
  • sunflower cake – 10,5%;
  • soy – 9%;
  • fish, meat and bone and grass meal and fodder yeast – 5% each;
  • chalk – 1,5%.

Compound feed for turkeys: types, selection and preparation

If we talk about turkeys aged 4-6 months, then for them the recipe will be as follows:

  • corn and barley bran – 35% each;
  • wheat – 10%;
  • herbal flour – 7%;
  • fish – 4%;
  • fodder yeast – 3,5%;
  • sunflower cake – 3%;
  • chalk – 1,5%.

It should be noted that self-preparation of compound feed is a fairly simple process. In a certain container, it is necessary to carefully and thoroughly mix the ingredients for turkeys of a certain age. For mixing, it is better to use a basin or a trough, and the substances must be added in the indicated percentage and mixed.

Compound feed for turkeys: types, selection and preparation

Now you can use the mixture for feeding turkeys. It will not be superfluous to let her brew a little.

Consumption and feeding rates

It should be said that during the period of egg production, there should be enough food in the feeder so that the turkey can eat as much as it wants. However, when fattening, too much food consumed can cause obesity. For this reason, turkeys need to be fed carefully. If we talk about the norms of feeding and consumption of adult birds, then during the day, females usually eat 300-400 g of feed, and males – up to 500 g. The same indicator will be for heavy crosses. Feeding of adults should be carried out three times a day with permanent monitoring of the increase in live weight of the bird and its appearance.

If signs of obesity suddenly appear, then the diet should be changed by reducing the mass fraction of grass flour and adding various categories of bran, for example, oats and barley.

Compound feed for turkeys: types, selection and preparation

As for turkeys, for good feeding, they should be accustomed to a constant meal. Poults with low weight need to be fed 8 times a day at regular intervals. When they turn one month old, you can switch to a six-time meal system. The weekly volume of food supplied in the first 60 days of life will be as follows:

  • the first – 10 or 12 g;
  • the second – 15 g;
  • the third – 22 g;
  • fourth – 35 g;
  • fifth – 50 g;
  • sixth – 75 g;
  • seventh – 110 g;
  • eighth – 160 g.

When the turkeys are 25-30 weeks old, the amount of food should be smoothly brought up to 280-300 g.

Is it possible to give compound feed intended for other animals?

Many farmers often try to replace turkey feed with other analogues. For example, they use pig and chicken feed. The use of the pork version is very dangerous, because its use in this case can cause liver disease, and the processing of pork feed that is coarser in consistency will quickly wear it out.

Compound feed for turkeys: types, selection and preparation

You can also give turkeys calf feed, which is much more tender, but only for a short period of time.

If you really want to use analogues, then you can use chicken feed, or rather, a mixture for broilers. But it needs to be modified a bit. More precisely, you need to add protein components to it, which will accelerate the growth of muscles and bones. This can be done using one of three components:

  • cottage cheese – 3 g per bird;
  • boiled egg – 3 g per bird;
  • bone meal – 1 kg per 10 kg of feed.

The older the turkeys, the more additives you need to use. Also, various greens should be added to the diet: alfalfa, onion, dandelion, nettle.

Compound feed for turkeys: types, selection and preparation

Thus, growing turkeys is quite a profitable business. But in the matter of feeding, there are a number of important nuances that should be taken into account when keeping.

In order for birds to grow and develop well, they need a high-quality, complete and balanced diet. As you can see, there are more than enough such solutions on the market. If you wish, you can make compound feed yourself, and it will not be inferior to the industrial analogue, which is more expensive. Such compound feed must be properly prepared, which not every farmer can do.

How to feed turkeys, see the following video.

Anna Evans

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