The quantity and cost of feed used in raising a flock of 156 Bronze
turkeys in Montana in 1934 are shown in tables 3 and 4. These poults (70
males and 86 females) had well-balanced dry mashes (containing 22 percent
of protein) before them at all times and scratch grain beginning with the
second week. The birds were allowed to range on 2-acre nonirrigated lots
after they were 8 weeks of age. The costs were based on local feed prices
in Miles City, Mont., in 1934. By using the data in tables 2 and 3, the
feed consumption and cost for an average turkey can be estimated for any
period of growth.
Table 3.--Average feed consumption and cost per pound of gain in
4-week periods for 70 male and 86 female Bronze turkeys in 1934 at Miles
City, Mont.
---------------+----------------------------+---------------
| | Cost of feed
| Feed consumed per pound | for each
| of gain in live weight | pound of
Age +--------+---------+---------+ gain in
| Mash | Scratch | Total | live weight
| | grain | |
---------------+--------+---------+---------+---------------
|_Pounds_|_Pounds_ |_Pounds_ | _Cents_
1 to 4 weeks | 2.44 | 0.21 | 2.65 | 5.9
5 to 8 weeks | 2.41 | 0.16 | 2.57 | 5.7
9 to 12 weeks | 2.42 | 0.43 | 2.85 | 6.1
13 to 16 weeks | 3.47 | 0.42 | 3.90 | 8.8
17 to 20 weeks | 3.05 | 1.52 | 4.57 | 9.8
21 to 24 weeks | 3.09 | 3.45 | 6.54 | 13.5
25 to 28 weeks | 2.46 | 5.64 | 8.10 | 16.1
---------------+--------+---------+---------+---------------
Table 4.--Average feed consumption per bird in periods for 70
male and 86 female Bronze turkeys in 1934 at Miles City, Mont.
---------------+--------+---------+----------
Age | Mash | Scratch | Total
| | grain |
---------------+--------+---------+----------
|_Pounds_| _Pounds_| _Pounds_
1 to 4 weeks | 1.39 | 0.12 | 1.51
5 to 8 weeks | 4.45 | 0.29 | 4.74
9 to 12 weeks | 6.67 | 1.19 | 7.86
13 to 16 weeks | 9.96 | 1.21 | 11.17
17 to 20 weeks | 9.05 | 4.52 | 13.57
21 to 24 weeks | 7.64 | 8.53 | 16.17
25 to 28 weeks | 5.19 | 11.89 | 17.08
---------------+--------+---------+----------
Using the data contained in tables 2 and 3, it will be found that it took
approximately 96 pounds of mash and scratch feed to raise a 21-pound tom
to 28 weeks of age, and about 57-1/2 pounds of mash and grain to raise a
12-1/2-pound hen to that age, or about 4.6 pounds of feed for each pound
of live weight, when practically all feed was furnished. It took about 4
pounds of feed for each pound of live weight up to 24 weeks of age. The
birds had access to a moderate sized range lot containing native grasses,
but very little feed was obtained from it during the 1934 season.