Implıcatıons of dıfferent barley forms and theır antınutrıtıonal propertıes on turkey performance

Global climate change and rising feed costs necessitate the development of sustainable, cost-effective diets for turkey production. This study evaluated three barley forms – barley pasture, hydroponic barley, and soaked grain barley – for their effects on growth performance, feed efficiency, carcass traits, and antinutritional factors in American Bronze turkeys. A total of 180 two-week-old turkey poults were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments (60/treatment; three replicates of 20) and reared for 20 weeks. Weekly live weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were recorded; carcass and organ yields were determined at slaughter. Barley β-glucan and phytic acid concentrations were analyzed, and calcium and phosphorus excretion in feces assessed. Results showed that males outperformed females (P < 0.05). In the starter phase, the hydroponic and soaked barley groups achieved the highest weight gains, whereas weight gains for the barley pasture group was the lowest (P < 0.05). During the grower and finisher phases, performance differences between males were non-significant (P > 0.05), but the females on barley pasture continued to perform worse than the other groups (P < 0.05). Feed intake was the highest in the hydroponic group in all phases (P < 0.05) and the lowest initially in the soaked group and later in the barley pasture group. Feed conversion was optimal with soaked barley early and subsequently with barley pasture in males (P < 0.05). Carcass and organ yields did not differ significantly (P > 0.05), although hydroponic barley-fed females had more abdominal fat (P < 0.05). β-glucan and phytic acid concentrations were significantly lower in barley pasture and hydroponic forms than in dry and soaked forms (P < 0.05). The hydroponic group also had the lowest fecal phosphorus concentrations (P < 0.05). Overall, hydroponic barley enhanced body weight gain and daily feed intake, whereas the performance of females on barley pasture was inferior. Germinated barley forms (hydroponic and pasture) contained reduced levels of β-glucan and phytic acid. These findings suggest that germinated barley can serve as a sustainable, effective feeding strategy to mitigate antinutritional factors and improve turkey performance.