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This study evaluated the effects of three light sources (sodium vapor, daylight fluorescent, and incandescent) on growth and reproduction in turkeys, and the influence of the opposite sex on reproduction when using these three light sources. The influence of the various treatments as potential stressors was also evaluated. Ninety male and 324 female Large White turkeys were reared in single-sex pens under one of the three previously mentioned light sources from 8 to 22 weeks of age. All males and females were placed under lights restricted to 6 hours (h) of light per day at an intensity of 21.6 lux when they were 22 weeks of age. At 33 weeks of age, males were exposed to 16 h of light per day under the same light sources under which they were reared at intensities of either 21.6 or 86.1 lux. At 35 weeks of age, females were reassigned to the various light sources to achieve all possible combinations of adolescent and breeder light source. Light was provided 16 hours per day at an intensity of 53.8 lux during a 20 week egg production cycle. Within this design, females were housed in either (a) pens with a male physically present, (b) pens with a male visually and vocally present, or (c) pens completely isolated from males. / Master of Science

Two experiments were conducted to determine the role of the turkey hen’s immune system in the so-called seasonal decline in fertility. Results from Experiment I demonstrated that trauma to the oviduct induced either at the time of the initial artificial insemination, or during subsequent inseminations had no effect upon hen fertility, or serum anti-sperm antibody titers. No differences in fertility were found between hens showing a positive or negative anti-sperm antibody response. Experiment II demonstrated that only relatively infertile turkey hens had antibody positive cells within the uterovaginal sperm storage gland epithelium (UVSG), while fertile turkey hens had no such cells. Antibody positive amorphous material was found within the lumen of the UVSG of relatively infertile, but not fertile turkey hens. Blood serum from relatively infertile hens showed minimal anti-sperm antibody titers. It was concluded that the seasonal decline in fertility in turkey hens is a local not due to a humoral immune response against spermatozoa. However, immune response against spermatozoa appears to exist in the uterovaginal sperm storage glands of the turkey hen, which has a detrimental effect upon fertility / Master of Science