The Efficacy of Bacitracin Methylene Disalicylate and Zinc Bacitracin in Turkey Nutrition

Abstract

Three experiments are reported which utilized a total of 2856 male and female Large White Turkeys to evaluate bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD) and zinc bacitracin (ZB) as growth promotants. Using graded levels of antibiotics in Experiment 1, the 55 ppm level of BMD or ZB yielded significant growth responses, and 110 ppm of ZB showed responses significantly greater than that shown by 55 ppm. In Experiment 2, 55 ppm of either antibiotic from 0 to 8 weeks of age followed by 22 ppm from 8 weeks to market age yielded 9.9 to 11.8 and 3.7 to 3.8% growth responses at 8 weeks and market age, respectively; these values represented averages of males and females of both Nicholas and British United Turkeys (BUT) turkeys. Throughout this study the Nicholas turkeys were heavier than the BUT turkeys; however, at the end of the experiment feed efficiency was better for the BUT turkeys. In Experiment 3, growth responses of 10 to 12% were obtained by feeding 55 ppm of ZB or BMD to male turkeys from day old to 8 weeks of age. Continued feeding of 22 ppm of these antibiotics from 8 to 20 weeks of age supported an increasing body weight response from .25 to .64 kg in the cooler environment (7 C). In a warm environment (27 C), the same antibiotic supplements only maintained the .25 kg body weight response from 8 to 20 weeks. When BMD was withdrawn at 8 weeks of age, the response, averaging all four environments, diminished from .25 kg at 8 weeks to .10 kg at 20 weeks of age.