Age Makes Difference WOOSTER, Ohio—Older tur key hens produce better offspring, but no one knows exactly why, said Michael Lilbum, associate professor of animal science at Ohio State University’s Ohio Agricultural Research and Devel opment Center in Wooster. Baby turkeys, called poults, from younger hens are not as ro bust as those from older hens, Lil bum said. Poults from young hens are typically smaller than normal and are more likely to grow more slowly during the first two or three weeks after hatching. Lilbum and Todd Applegate, a graduate research assistant, stu died the eggs and poults of hens from 36 to 55 weeks of age to learn the difference caused by hen age. The average poult weight at hatching increased from 62.6 grams (2.19 ounces) from 36-week-old hens to 64.9 grams (2.27 ounces) from SS-week-old hens. usually produce egg size doesn’t Younger hens smaller eggs, but FROM TURF TO DOT Kubota's Grand L-Senes diesel tractors Four compact models 25 to 37 PTO HP, with features and options to handle any job The 2WD and 4VVD Grand L-Senes feature Kubota's, new E-TVCS diesel engine with quick-start Super Glow ignition Compact and powerful, these tractors have a tilt steering wheel, power steering and a choice of transmissions The new GST (Glide Shift Transmission) transmission with hydraulic shuttle or the new fully-synchronized mam transmission with Synchro-shuttle, both allow shiftmg-on-the-go 1 There's a ree P Speed option available on all models including the GST models Operator's deck is ISO-mounted to greatly reduce vibration A rear PTO and Vpoint hitch allow a wide range of qmck-attach ‘ implements A semi-independent mid-PTO is available on some models along with front loader/mid-mount mower compatibility Kubota even offers an all season high visibility cab to keep you comfortable year round From turt to dirt, Kubota's Grand L-Senes has you covered I ' VJj Kubota Traitor Corporation markets a hill line ot tractors through a nationwide in tw ork of o\ er 1 000 dealers Financing is acailaolc through Kuboti Credit Corporation PENNSYLVANI, Alburtis CANNS-BILCO DIST. INC. 610-966-3733 Bloomsburg TRACTOR PARTS CO. 717-784-0250 For Female Turkeys , seem to cause smaller poults. Eggs from older hens that are the same size still hatch larger poults. So some biological advantage within the egg, rather than its size, causes the difference in poult weight, Lil bum said. “If we can understand what causes the physiological differ ence between poults from older and younger hens, we can enhance the hens to try and eliminate the difference,” Lilbum said. Egg yolks size umld be the an swer. The yolk of an egg, whether it be chicken, turkey or any other bird, is the main nutrient supplier for a developing embryo. Nearly 93 percent of the nutrients an em bryo receives comes from the yolk. Lilbum found that as hens age, they begin to deposit more yolk in eggs. The percent yolk weight of turkey eggs increased with hen age from 28.2 percent from 36-week-old hens to 34 per cent from 55-week-old hens. The larger yolks could provide more nutrients to the embryo, increas ing eventual poult size, Lilbum See Your Local Kubota Dealer Berrysburg PRIME LINE EQUIP. INC. 717-362-1000 Cochranville STOLTZFUS FARM SERVICE, INC. 610-593-2407 Kubota £ New Berlinville ERB & HENRY EQUIPMENT, INC. 610-367-2169 Elizabethtown MESSICK FARM EQUIR INC. 717-367-1319 Lebanon & Lancaster KELLER BROS. TRACTOR CO. 717-949-2000 717-569-2500 Reading NICARRY EQUIPMENT, INC. 610-926-2441 said. Fat or lipid content in the egg also could have some impact. Lipids within the egg allow for more efficient transfer of nutrients from the yolk to the embryo. Lipid content was considerably lower in the eggs of the youngest hens, he said. Most egg content and poult size differences occurred from the youngest hens of 36 weeks. Once the hens got to4l or 42 weeks and beyond, no real differences ex isted. Scientists at the research center are continuing studies to understand the exact reason why younger hens produce smaller poults, Lilbum said. Turkey hens raised for commer cial use generally lay their fust eggs at 34 weeks. They continue to lay eggs up to 60 weeks, when they are either sent to market or al lowed to go out of production for three months. After the three months layoff, hens can produce eggs for another 12 to 20 weeks. Hens in peak egg production lay seven dr eight eggs every 10 days. West Chester WENNER FORD TRACTOR, INC. 610-399-9615 York YORK TRACTOR, INC. 717-764-1094 Lancaater Farming, Saturday, December 14, 1996-C5 (Contlnued from Page C 4) there could be some changes before they are enacted. The reg ulations ate quite lengthy so this .-'article does not cover all the details in the regulations. Computer programs arc avail- able which can greatly reduce the record keeping workload. Prog rams ate available commercially and from public institutions. Penn State has developed a computer program to assist far mers in nutrient management plan ning. The Penn State Nutrient Management Program was written using FOXPRO 2.6 and then com piled, resulting in a standalone relational database program. The program estimates manure resour ces, field and crop requirements, determines manure allocation, and publishes reports. The reports available include farm nutrient balance, manure group summary, field/crop summary, manure allo- NEW JERSEY Hainesport MATERIAL HANDLING SYSTEMS 609-267-6100 DELAWARE Newark NEWARK KUBOTA, INC. 1-800-955-3031 cation scheme, and field-by-field nutrient balance. The program is only available in the DOS environment and DOS 3.3 or higher is needed. A 386 computer or above is recom mended with standard or extended memory and one high density flop py disk drive. The program cost is $3O. It is available from Dr. Peter Bohn, Department of Agronomy, Penn State University, 116 ASI Building, University Park PA 16802. 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