Lack of Growth-promoting Activity of Inactivated Penicillin with Turkey Poults

Abstract

THE growth response of many animals to low levels of dietary antibiotics is now well established. Extensive investigation has not demonstrated the exact mode of action of dietary antibiotic, but it is generally considered that its antibacterial activity is involved. Recently, Taylor and Gordon¹ showed that inactivated penicillin gave an increase in growth-rate of pigs as well as a reduction in the feed-conversion ratio; they suggested that the growth-promoting ability of inactivated penicillin was due to a stable end-product of the inactivated drug.