The Response of Broiler Chickens to the Addition of Bacitracin Methylene Disalicylate to Diets Containing Salinomycin and Roxarsone

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the response of broiler chickens to addition of bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD) to diets containing salinomycin. In each experiment, five tests were conducted at different locations. In Experiment 1, all diets contained 66 mg salinomycin/kg of diet for the first 42 days and either 0 or 33 mg BMD/kg of diet for the entire 49-day feeding period. In Experiment 2, all diets contained 66 mg salinomycin and 50 mg roxarsone/kg of diet for the first 42 days and either 0, 11, 33, or 55 mg BMD/kg of diet for the entire 49-day feeding period. In Experiment 1, addition of 33 mg BMD/kg of diet significantly (P less than .05) improved body weights and feed utilization. Results were similar in all five tests. In Experiment 2, addition of 11, 33, or 55 mg BMD/kg of diet significantly (P less than .05) increased body weights. In one location the addition of 55 mg BMD/kg of diet resulted in no significant difference in body weight compared with those fed the unsupplemented diet, but in all other locations the response was similar. Addition of 33 or 55 mg BMD/kg of diet resulted in improved (P less than .05) feed utilization when all tests were combined. Feed utilization was not improved in all locations by the addition of BMD.

Effect of antibiotic withdrawal in feed on chicken gut microbial dynamics, immunity, growth performance and prevalence of foodborne pathogens

“…Concurrently, prevalence of foodborne pathogens in the ceca and ilea was also investigated. Similar to earlier published reports [ 3 , 5 , 30 , 31 ], our study observed an increase in production performance response to dietary supplementation of bacitracin in the early phase (until d22) of chick growth. However, growth performance response to in-feed antibiotics was inconsistent across all ages [ 16 ] and reports indicate growth depression in broilers fed salinomycin [ 32 ].…”

“…In North America, antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs), commonly used in the poultry industry include: Avilamycin, Enramycin, Monensin, Penicillin, Virginamycin and Bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD) [ 3 ]. BMD is commonly used in the broiler diet for the prevention and control of necrotic enteritis, as well as improvement of weight gain and feed efficiency [ 4 , 5 ]. Inclusion of antibiotics in poultry diet can also reduce the prevalence of enteric pathogens.…”