Virginiamycin and laying hen performance

• Published in: Poultry science Vol. 64; no. 1; pp. 139 - 143
• Main Authors: Miles, R.D, Janky, D.M, Harms, R.H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.01.1985
• Subjects: ADDITIF AUX ALIMENTS DES ANIMAUX; ADITIVO DE PIENSOS; ALIMENTACION DE LOS ANIMALES; ALIMENTATION DES ANIMAUX; ANIMAL FEEDING; Animals; ANTIBIOTICOS; ANTIBIOTICS; ANTIBIOTIQUE; Body Weight; CHICKENS; Chickens - physiology; Egg Yolk; FEED ADDITIVES; Female; Food Additives; LAYING PERFORMANCE; Mortality; Oviposition - drug effects; PERFORMANCE DE PONTE; Pigmentation; POLLO; POULET; RENDIMIENTO EN LA POSTURA; Virginiamycin - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0032-5791; 1525-3171
• DOI: 10.3382/ps.0640139

Two experiments were conducted for five 28-day periods each. In Experiments 1 and 2, Hyline W-36 hens, 36 and 26 weeks of age, respectively, were used. Experiment 1 was designed to measure the effect of virginiamycin on hen performance and egg characteristics when supplementing a diet having low pigmentation potential. In Experiment 2, the diet contained 3% added fat with 0, 10, and 20 ppm virginiamycin. In Experiment 1, virginiamycin-supplemented hens showed increased (P less than or equal to .05) egg production, body weight, and improved feed efficiency. When egg production and feed efficiency were ranked by quartiles within the control and virginiamycin-supplemented groups, virginiamycin was shown to benefit only the poorer producing hens. In Experiment 2, added fat improved feed efficiency; however, the response to virginiamycin, as observed in Experiment 1, did not occur.