Were assessed the effect of five traditional diets backyard turkeys in confinement. The experiment lasted 36 weeks, the turkeys were randomized to one of five diets: kitchen waste + fresh forage (T1), kitchen waste (T...Were assessed the effect of five traditional diets backyard turkeys in confinement. The experiment lasted 36 weeks, the turkeys were randomized to one of five diets: kitchen waste + fresh forage (T1), kitchen waste (T2), commercial feed + fresh forage (T3), cracked corn + fresh forage (T4) and commercial feed (T5). Food and water were provided ad libitum. Each treatment with birds of both sexes had two repetitions with four birds and each bird was considered as an experimental unit. Were evaluated daily weight gain, total weight gain, final live weight, total length peak-tail, monthly gain peak-tail, total length, total length of wings, monthly gain wings length, and feed cost. The data were analyzed in a completely randomized arrangement with adjusted means and Tukey’s mean comparison, then an evaluation of treatment groups by analyzing clusters for semi quantitative data. The biggest daily gain, total weight gain and final live weight was obtained with treatment T3, while the highest increase in peak-length tail and wings was obtained with treatment T1 (P < 0.05). T2 treatment turned out to be most economical, but the treatment that best scores obtained was T1. We conclude that the use of kitchen waste + fresh forage is a feasible strategy to feed slow-growing turkeys.展开更多
Introduction:Reproductive success is a critical factor affecting avian demographics and can be influenced by many factors including nesting chronology,predation risk,and fine-scale nest site selection.Methods:We model...Introduction:Reproductive success is a critical factor affecting avian demographics and can be influenced by many factors including nesting chronology,predation risk,and fine-scale nest site selection.Methods:We modeled the relative influences of habitat-related covariates at six spatial scales(nest site:15-,40-,80-,120-,160-,and 200-m radii)on Eastern wild turkey(Meleagris gallopavo silvestris)nest site selection in two pine savannas managed by frequent prescribed fire(≤3 years)in southwestern Georgia during 2011-2013.Results:Nest site(15-m scale)habitat metrics(mean visual obstruction[cm]and canopy closure[%])had the greatest influence on nest site selection relative to covariates measured at larger spatial scales.Scaled odds ratios suggested that nests were 26.8% more likely to occur for every 10 cm increase in mean vegetation height with a range of 7.5 to 150.0 cm and 18.5% less likely to occur for every 10% increase in canopy closure with a range from 0.0 to 97.8%.Total ground cover,canopy closure,edge density,and percent land cover type(e.g.,mature pine,mixed pine/hardwood,shrub/scrub)had minimal influence on nest site selection.Conclusions:Management of pine savannas for turkey nest sites should focus on creating early-successional vegetation to conceal nests from potential predators.Additionally,we suggest that future studies consider evaluating the influence of spatial scale on turkey nest site selection.展开更多
文摘Were assessed the effect of five traditional diets backyard turkeys in confinement. The experiment lasted 36 weeks, the turkeys were randomized to one of five diets: kitchen waste + fresh forage (T1), kitchen waste (T2), commercial feed + fresh forage (T3), cracked corn + fresh forage (T4) and commercial feed (T5). Food and water were provided ad libitum. Each treatment with birds of both sexes had two repetitions with four birds and each bird was considered as an experimental unit. Were evaluated daily weight gain, total weight gain, final live weight, total length peak-tail, monthly gain peak-tail, total length, total length of wings, monthly gain wings length, and feed cost. The data were analyzed in a completely randomized arrangement with adjusted means and Tukey’s mean comparison, then an evaluation of treatment groups by analyzing clusters for semi quantitative data. The biggest daily gain, total weight gain and final live weight was obtained with treatment T3, while the highest increase in peak-length tail and wings was obtained with treatment T1 (P < 0.05). T2 treatment turned out to be most economical, but the treatment that best scores obtained was T1. We conclude that the use of kitchen waste + fresh forage is a feasible strategy to feed slow-growing turkeys.
基金funding provided by the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division through the Wildlife Restoration Program(Grant No.W75)。
文摘Introduction:Reproductive success is a critical factor affecting avian demographics and can be influenced by many factors including nesting chronology,predation risk,and fine-scale nest site selection.Methods:We modeled the relative influences of habitat-related covariates at six spatial scales(nest site:15-,40-,80-,120-,160-,and 200-m radii)on Eastern wild turkey(Meleagris gallopavo silvestris)nest site selection in two pine savannas managed by frequent prescribed fire(≤3 years)in southwestern Georgia during 2011-2013.Results:Nest site(15-m scale)habitat metrics(mean visual obstruction[cm]and canopy closure[%])had the greatest influence on nest site selection relative to covariates measured at larger spatial scales.Scaled odds ratios suggested that nests were 26.8% more likely to occur for every 10 cm increase in mean vegetation height with a range of 7.5 to 150.0 cm and 18.5% less likely to occur for every 10% increase in canopy closure with a range from 0.0 to 97.8%.Total ground cover,canopy closure,edge density,and percent land cover type(e.g.,mature pine,mixed pine/hardwood,shrub/scrub)had minimal influence on nest site selection.Conclusions:Management of pine savannas for turkey nest sites should focus on creating early-successional vegetation to conceal nests from potential predators.Additionally,we suggest that future studies consider evaluating the influence of spatial scale on turkey nest site selection.