Effect of Dietary Neomycin-Terramycin on Reproductive Performance in Turkeys

Abstract

INFORMATION concerning the effect of antibiotics on the reproductive performance of turkeys is limited. Atkinson and Couch (1951) tested a number of dietary supplements for their effect on reproductive performance of Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys. Chlortetracycline (CTC) at a level of 25 mg. per kg. of diet proved to be the most effective in increasing egg production. Halbrook and Beeckler (1951), however, found no consistent improvement in egg production of either chickens or turkeys resulting from feeding a combination of vitamin B12 and CTC each at the low level of 3.96 mg. per kg. of diet. White-Stevens et al. (1955) reported that Beltsville Small White turkeys fed CTC continuously at 110 to 220 mg. per kg. of feed produced significantly more eggs and poults than birds fed the non-supplemented diet. Deacon and Patterson (1966) fed oxytetracycline at levels of 11, 55 and 110 mg. per kg. of the diet to…