Effect of Penicillin on Growth, Feed Efficiency and Fattening of Turkeys

THE value of adding antibiotics to turkey starting rations up to 8 weeks in order to improve growth and feed efficiency has been clearly established. However, inconsistent results have been obtained from the addition of antibiotics to turkey developing rations. Results at the Pennsylvania State Agricultural Experiment Station (1952) showed that continuous antibiotic supplementation to 28 weeks of age significantly increased the body weight of turkeys; however, most of the increase was contributed by the males. Removal of the antibiotic at 8 weeks of age decreased the rate of growth and increased variability during the 12–28 weeks. Scott and Jensen (1952) reported that the best rate of growth, feathering and finish at market age were obtained in the turkeys which received aureomycin, throughout both the starting and growing periods. The growth advantage obtained by feeding the antibiotic was rapidly lost when aureomycin was withdrawn from the feed after the …