Abstract

Penicillin caused a significant increase in weight with chicks having free access to feed but no increase when feed intake was equated. With chicks fed ad libitum, penicillin resulted in greater daily feed consumption per chick almost without exception for the first 28 days after hatching. On the other hand, feed consumption per unit of body weight was increased by the antibiotic only to about 16 days of age. These results suggest that penicillin stimulates chick growth by causing an increase in feed consumption early in the life of the bird. The real increase in feed consumption — that is, the increase per unit of body weight — caused by penicillin appeared to be associated with an increase in fecal coliforms or a decrease in fecal counts of lactobacilli, anaerobes, aerobes and enterococci groups of microorganisms, or both.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.