Effects of different feeding methods on neuropeptide nesfatin-1 and Irisin in turkeys

In this study, the effects of different methods of feeding turkeys on the neuropeptide nesfatin-1 and the hormone irisin were evaluated. A total of 90 turkeys were distributed to three treatment groups, namely T1: conventional system, T2: 50% feed and pasture, and T3: pasture. There were 30 birds in each group with three random replications. The birds were fed for 18 weeks. At the end of the study, blood was collected from 10 birds of each group. Plasma nesfatin-1 and irisin levels were measured with an enzyme-linked immunoassay. The nesfatin-1 levels of male turkeys in T1, T2, and T3 were 0.76 ± 0.1 ng/m, 0.41 ± 0.1 ng/ml, and 1.24 ± 0.2 ng/ml, respectively. Nesfatin-1 levels in the female turkeys in T1, T2 and T3 were 0.53 ± 0.07 ng/ml, 1.18 ± 0.3 ng/ml, 1.32 ± 0.1 ng/ml, respectively. The irisin levels in the male turkeys in T1, T2, and T3 were 575.93 ± 42.5 pg/ml, 188.39 ± 1.8 pg/ml, and 607.54 ± 24.1 pg/ml, respectively. Irisin levels of the female turkeys in T1, T2 and T3 were 603.20 ± 42.2 pg/ml, 241.42 ± 18.4 pg/ml, and 399.29 ± 21.5 pg/ml, respectively. Because nesfatin-1 is involved in regulating food intake, food intake by turkeys might differ, depending on the management system. Different management systems might also alter irisin secreation because it can be induced by exercise.