COCCIDIOSIS AND NECROTIC ENTERITIS IN TURKEYS

A flock of turkey primary breeder candidates experienced increased mor tality within 1 week of being placed in a growout house at 5 weeks 4 d ays of age. The flock was placed on wood shavings that had been used b y an older flock for 2 weeks immediately before placement. Necropsy re vealed severe coccidiosis and necrotic enteritis primarily in the dist al jejunum, ileum, cecum, and colon. Clostridium perfringens was cultu red from intestines. When breeders were selected at 17 weeks of age, t otal mortality in the affected flock was twice that of a comparable fl ock placed on fresh litter. Weight at selection in the affected flock was also significantly lower than in flocks placed on fresh litter at the same time in the same growout house.