A study on the value of antimycoplasmal programmes under conditions of mycoplasmosis endemicity in laying chickens

Abstract

The comparative efficacy of 3 antimycoplasmals-TiamutinÒ, RovamycinÒ, and TylanÒ in the control of Mycoplasmosis in 3 identical groups of laying chickens, under open-sided tropical housing conditions was investigated during 20 weeks of egg production. The results showed that, egg production was superior in the medicated groups, especially the TiamutinÒ group A which showed consistent superiority to the untreated control group D in the examined parameters. Thus, the total eggs produced were 43,680, 42,150, 21,360 and 17060 for the 3 treated groups A, B, C and untreated group D respectively. Similarly, hen-day percentage production at peak were 82.4%, 80.9%, 78.7% and 78.6%. The gross benefits margin from eggs were N19.70, N3.03, N4.14 and N0.00, for A, B, C and D respectively. Immunological response in terms of Newcastle disease-heamagglutination inhibition mean geometric titers averaged 6.0, 5.7, 5.6 and 5.5 for A, B, C and D respectively. These findings are therefore indicative of the potential value of a preventive antimycoplasmal programme in laying chickens.



KEY WORDS: Antimycoplasmal, prophylaxis, egg production.


(Nig Vet J:2002 23(1): 16-21)