Coccidiosis in turkeys: evaluation of infection by the examination of turkey broiler litter for oocysts.
Three hundred and ninety six samples of litter from turkey broiler houses from four farms were examined over 2-10 weeks from the time day old poults were introduced. Oocyst numbers were low at 2 weeks, reached a peak at 4 weeks and then rapidly declined by 8 weeks in poults treated with sulphaquinoxaline and 3-nitro-4-hydroxyphenylarsonic acid. In monensin-treated turkeys, oocyst numbers in litter were low at 2 and 4 weeks, reached a peak at 6 weeks and then rapidly declined. Oocyst numbers were significantly lower in samples from monensin-treated turkeys. There was no difference in the food conversion ratio of birds given the different treatments, but monensin-treated birds marketed at 11-13 weeks, 15-16 weeks and 21-24 weeks were 3.0%, 4.8% and 3.3% heavier respectively than birds treated with sulphaquinoxaline and 3-nitro-4-hydroxy-phenylarsonic acid. The value of the examination of litter samples for assessing the activity of anticoccidial drugs is discussed.
Long
P L
PL
Houghton Poultry Research Station, Houghton Huntingdon, Cambs, England.
Millard
B J
BJ