Effects of dietary levels of oxytetracycline on the growth and organ weights of guinea fowl (Numida meleagris)

Abstract

S U M M A R YGrowth and visceral organ weights of male guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) given different levels of oxytetracycline have been studied in two experiments. In the first experiment 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg oxytetracycline per kg diet were given to male guinea fowl from day 1 to 12 weeks. Body weight showed significant (P < 005) increases with incremental levels of the antibiotic up to 10 mg/kg diet. No further increases in growth were recorded with supplementation above this level. There were no treatment effects on the gizzard, lungs and male reproductive organs. Only the heart, liver and intestine weights were significantly (P < 005) affected by the treatment, and then only at the highest (20 mg/kg) of the inclusion rates examined. A second experiment was conducted to find out if the growth response obtained with 10 mg/kg oxytetracycline could be produced with a smaller dose. This was achieved at 6-6 mg/kg.

Maximum levels of cross‐contamination for 24 antimicrobial active substances in non‐target feed. Part 12: Tetracyclines: tetracycline, chlortetracycline, oxytetracycline, and doxycycline

“…In the study of Oguntona ( 1988a ) two experiments are described. In Experiment 1 a total of 300 one‐day‐old male guinea fowls ( Numida meleagris ) were allocated to five dietary treatments (60 birds/treatment), each including four replicates with 15 birds.…”

“…In the study of Oguntona (1988a), a total of 400 one-day-old guinea fowls (Numida meleagris) were allocated to four dietary treatments (100 birds/treatment), each including four replicates with 15 birds. Three diets (starter, grower, finisher) were either not supplemented or supplemented with different treatments.…”

“…The majority of these studies used oxytetracycline as positive control and thus only one concentration was tested, which preclude the possibility to correlate the observed effects with the level administered. Different doses were tested only in one study in Guinea fowls (Oguntona, 1988a).…”