The following table gives worked examples of the stocking density formula
A = k.W2/3 (where A is the space required in m2, k is the co-efficient 0.0459 and W is liveweight in kg), applied to various liveweights.
Live weight (W) (kg) |
Floor space per bird (A) = 0.0459W2/3 (m2) |
Stocking rate (birds/m2) |
Stocking density (kg/m2) |
0.5 |
0.0289 |
34.5839 |
17.3 |
1 |
0.0459 |
21.7865 |
21.8 |
2 |
0.0728 |
13.7246 |
27.4 |
3 |
0.0954 |
10.4738 |
31.4 |
4 |
0.1156 |
8.6459 |
34.6 |
5 |
0.1342 |
7.4508 |
37.3 |
6 |
0.1515 |
6.5981 |
39.6 |
7 |
0.1679 |
5.9537 |
41.7 |
8 |
0.1836 |
5.4466 |
43.6 |
9 |
0.1966 |
5.0553 |
45.3 |
10 |
0.2130 |
4.6934 |
46.9 |
11 |
0.2270 |
4.4047 |
48.5 |
12 |
0.2406 |
4.1565 |
49.9 |
13 |
0.2538 |
3.9406 |
51.2 |
14 |
0.2666 |
3.7506 |
52.5 |
15 |
0.2792 |
3.5820 |
53.7 |
16 |
0.2914 |
3.4311 |
54.9 |
17 |
0.3035 |
3.2952 |
56.6 |
18 |
0.3152 |
3.1720 |
57.1 |
19 |
0.3268 |
3.0897 |
58.1 |
20 |
0.3382 |
2.9568 |
59.1 |
For comparison, if a coefficient of 0.0121 were used, equating to the minimum area per bird, stocking density for 5, 15 and 20 kg liveweight birds would be, 141, 203, and 224kg/m2 respectively. At these densities the turkeys would be in contact with each other on all sides and have no room to move.