The effect of mannanoligosaccharides, bambermycins, and virginiamycin on performance of large white male market turkeys

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of mannanoligosaccharides (MO S), bambermycins (BAM), and virginiamycin (VIR) on the growth performance o f male turkeys. Hybrid Large White male poults were assigned to six dietary treatments: control, MOS, BAM, VIR, MOS+BAM (MB), and MOS+VIR (MV). All di ets were formulated to meet NRC (1994) nutrient requirements. There were ei ght replicate floor pens per treatment with 20 birds per pen reared from 1 to 140 d. Body weight and feed conversion (FC) were collected at 3-wk inter vals and at 20 wk of age. Mortality and culled birds were recorded daily. A ll treatments except MV significantly (P < 0.05) increased 20 wk BW. Body w eight was increased at 12 wk by BAM, whereas VIR increased BW at Weeks 12 a nd 15. All treatments improved FC for Weeks 0 to 3, whereas VIR, MB, and MV improved FC for Weeks 0 to 12 and 0 to 18. There were no treatment effects on cumulative mortality or cull rate. Dietary supplemental MOS, BAM, and V IR resulted in improved growth performance of Large White turkeys. These re sults indicate that MOS may be utilized as an alternative to antibiotic gro wth promotants to improve turkey performance.