Response of Germ-Free and Conventionally Reared Turkey Poults to Dietary Supplementation with Penicillin and Oleandomycin.

Summary Maryland Medium White and Beltsville White poults reared under germ-free conditions showed excellent growth on a purified type washed Drackett protein starch basal diet. Supplementation of the diet with procaine penicillin (45 mg/kg) or with oleandomycin (30 mg/kg) did not improve growth. In concurrent tests, conventionally reared poults fed the basal ration grew at a lower rate than the germ-free birds while those fed the basal ration supplemented by either penicillin or oleandomycin grew at a rate comparable to that of the germ-free birds.