Effect of prefeeding on physiological parameters associated with turkey poult mortality

A commercially available antibiotic and nutrient solution was prefed by gavage into the crops of newly hatched poults, which were then brooded under standard conditions of continuous lighting, 35-C temperatures, and ad libitum feed. Treated poults exhibited higher feed consumption, hematocrits, and total red blood cells during the week following the prefeeding regime. Prefeeding partially ameliorated the typically low hematological parameters that have been associated previously with early poult mortality. The results of this study suggest that prefeeding an antibiotic and nutrient solution significantly improves the welfare of poults during the 1st week after hatching.