Effect of resin acid composition on growth performance, footpad dermatitis, slaughter value, and gastrointestinal tract development in turkeys

A 105-day experiment was conducted with 600 BIG 6 female turkeys to determine the effect of Progres (natural resin acids [RA] of Scots pine and Norway spruce) on the growth performance of birds, the incidence of footpad dermatitis (FPD), litter quality, carcass quality, and the structure and function of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) (pH, viscosity, short-chain fatty acids) (3 treatments, 10 replicates, and 20 birds per replicate). The birds received a basal diet without RA (T1), or diets supplemented with RA at 0.5 kg/t (starters 1 and 2, finisher) and 1.0 kg/t (growers 1 and 2) (T2), or diets supplemented with RA at 0.75 kg/t (starters 1 and 2, finisher) and 1.5 kg/t (growers 1 and 2) (T3). The inclusion of the Progres RA preparation in turkey diets increased the BW of birds by 1.6% (0.5–1.0 kg/t RA) and 2.1% (0.75–1.5 kg/t RA—P ≤ 0.05. Dietary supplementation with RA significantly improved the values of the feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05) and the European Efficiency Index (P < 0.05). The addition of RA to turkey diets reduced the incidence of FPD at 9 and 15 weeks of age (P < 0.05) and improved litter quality (P < 0.05). The inclusion of the analyzed preparation in turkey diets had no effect on carcass quality or meat quality, and on most parameters of the GIT structure and function. The results of this study indicate that the Progres RA preparation improves the performance and well-being of turkeys.