There are several parasitic diseases caused by protozoan parasites affecting turkeys, for example, coccidiosis and cochlosomiasis, which affect the integrity and functionality of the intestinal mucosa, or histomoniasis, which also affects liver functionality. Improving the physiological status of the intestinal mucosa and local immunity is essential to ensure good growth and productive performance of turkeys.

Pronutrients are active molecules of botanical origin. They act at the metagenetic level to optimize organ physiology. Intestinal conditioner pronutrients act on the enterocytes, improving their regeneration and physiology and, therefore, the integrity of the intestinal mucosa. Intestinal optimizer pronutrients enhance local immunity of the gut, so the animal´s immunity prevent the colonization of the intestinal epithelium by protozoan parasites.

Objective

Evaluate the effect of intestinal conditioner and optimizer pronutrients on coccidiosis control and productive parameters in turkeys.

Material and methods

The trial was conducted with a total of 33,888 turkeys from the Nicholas line. The birds were divided into two experimental groups:

• Control group: without pronutrients – 15,295 turkeys.
• Experimental group: with intestinal conditioner and optimizer pronutrients in drinking water, from day 13 to day 28 of age – 18,593 turkeys.
  • Dosage: 0.5 ml/l on days 13 and 14 and from day 17 to 28; and at 1 ml/l on days 15 and 16.

The production parameters were evaluated until the 28^th of age, before moving the birds to the fattening sheds.

Results

The average daily gain in the control group was 63.4 g per day, while the group supplemented with pronutrients achieved higher average daily gain, of 69.9,9 g/daily, which means a 10% difference from the control group.

The turkeys of the group supplemented with pronutrients obtained a final average weight of 0.880 kg, with a difference of 81 g per animal from the control group, which obtained a final average weight of 0.799 kg.

At the same time, the uniformity of both batches was assessed through the coefficient of variation (CV). The control group obtained a CV of 17%, while, in the group with pronutrients, it was 12%. A higher coefficient of variation is related to greater dispersion of sizes within the batch, which could be related to health differences between batches.

A significant difference in feed conversion rate (FCR) was observed between the two batches. The FCR in the control group was 2.098, while in the group supplemented with pronutrients it was 1.58, which means a 24.69%improvement.

Oocyst count per gram of faeces (OPG) was performed for Eimeria spp. at 21 days of age, and a higher number of OPG were observed in the control group (44 OPG) compared to the pronutrient group, which obtained a count of 11.7 OPG, showing a reduction of 73.4%.

Regarding mortality, a 16.7% difference was observed between the control group, which achieved 4.2% mortality, and the pronutrient group, where it was 3.5%.  At the same time, necropsies of dead animals were performed on day 24, and coccidia lesions were observed in the control group only. In addition, faeces in the group with pronutrients were more consistent, favoring a better bed condition.

Finally, the Efficiency Index (EI) was evaluated in both groups. The control group obtained an EI of 289.63 points, while the group with pronutrients obtained an EI of 426.67 points, showing an increase of 137.04 points.

Conclusion

The use of intestinal conditioner and optimizer pronutrients allows to increase productive performance in turkeys, as well as the control against protozoan infections, increasing the efficiency index by 137 points and reducing mortality by 16.7%.

The use of these active molecules improves the final weight of animals by 10% and the feed conversion rate by 24.69%, improving the productive performance. These data indicate that, for every 1,000 turkeys, the use of these pronutrients would allow to obtain 85 kg more meat and save 455 kg per day at 28 days old.

Pronutrients also improve the control of coccidiosis in turkeys, reducing the number of oocysts per gram by up to 73.4% and improving the consistency of faeces, which is reflected in greater intestinal health.

Intestinal conditioners and optimizers pronutrients are marketed under the name Alquernat Coneb from Biovet S.A.