Effect of turkey (Meleagridis gallopavo) breeder hen age and egg size on poult development. 1. Intestinal growth and glucose tolerance of the turkey poult.

Three experiments were conducted to determine if turkey (Meleagridis gallopavo) hen age and egg weight affect poult intestinal development and glucose tolerance during the first week after hatching. Differences in glucose tolerance were not consistent across the experiments. In experiment 1, 4-day-old poults from the younger hens and lightest egg weight class had significantly greater fasting plasma glucose concentrations (P < 0.04) and were also higher at 30 and 60 min post-injection of 250 mg glucose. In experiment 2, egg weight class had no significant effects on plasma glucose concentrations of 4-day-old poults (after injection of 2.5 mg glucose/g body weight). In experiment 3, plasma glucose concentrations were not different between groups at 0 or 30 min post-injection (3.75 mg glucose/g body weight), however, poults from the younger hens had 79-90 mg/dl higher plasma glucose concentrations 60 min post-injection versus poults from the older hens. Neither egg weight class or hen age consistently affected small intestinal weight, length, or density (g/cm) measures across experiments.