Effects of CGA-72662 (Larvadex) in turkeys during rearing and reproduction

Turkeys were fed CGA-72662 (Larvadex) at treatment levels of 0, 500, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/kg diet from hatch to 16 wk of age, when the 500 mg/kg level was reduced to 250 mg/kg because of a significant reduction in feed intake. All diets continued through 40 wk of age. Body weight, feed consumption, livability, egg production, fertility, hatchability, and progeny performance were examined. Turkeys fed a treatment level of 2,000 mg CGA-72662/kg diet exhibited reduced growth rate and feed consumption prior to sexual maturity and decreased fertility and poult weight after sexual maturity. Necropsies suggested that the kidney was the primary site of lesions at the 1,000 and 2,000 mg/kg diet treatment levels. The kidneys were characterized as enlarged, nodular, and cystic, containing urate deposits and areas of necrosis. These data indicate that dosage levels of CGA-72662 at 250 mg/kg diet produced no deleterious effects on growth, feed consumption, egg production, fertility, hatchability, livability, or progeny performance.