Effect of bacitracin methylene disalicylate on turkey poult performance in the presence and absence of stunting syndrome.

This study included a complete factorial arrangement of three dietary levels of bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD) (0, 50, and 200 g/ton) and two health conditions (none and stunting syndrome [SS]). One-day-old turkeys were dosed per os with tryptose phosphate broth or a supernatant derived from gastrointestinal tracts of poults with SS. Body weight, feed intake, feed efficiency, water intake, and hydration efficiency were determined at 5, 9, 13, 21, and 27 days of age. BMD at 200 g/ton in the feed significantly improved body weight (P < 0.005) of poults with SS at all ages, and it improved feed efficiency (P < 0.05) from 1 to 9 days of age. BMD at 50 and 200 g/ton improved hydration efficiency (P < 0.05) of poults with SS during the first 9 days of life.