EFFECT OF BACITRACIN METHYLENE DISALICYLATE ON TURKEY POULT PERFORMANCE IN THE PRESENCE AND ABSENCE OF STUNTING SYNDROME

This study included a complete factorial arrangement of three dietary levels of bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD) (0, 50, and 200 g/to n) and two health conditions (none and stunting syndrome [SS]). One-da y-old turkeys were dosed per os with tryptose phosphate broth or a sup ernatant derived from gastrointestinal tracts of poults with SS. Body weight, feed intake, feed efficiency, water intake, and hydration effi ciency were determined at 5, 9, 13, 2 1, and 27 days of age. BMD at 20 0 g/ton in the feed significantly improved body weight (P < 0.005) of poults with SS at all ages, and it improved feed efficiency (P < 0.05) from 1 to 9 days of age. BMD at 50 and 200 g/ton improved hydration e fficiency (P < 0.05) of poults with SS during the first 9 days of life .