Effect of cholera preventative treatments on reproductive performance of turkey hens

Turkey hens were treated with either the Clemson University (CU) strain of P. multocida, chlortetracycline, bacterin, or no cholera preventative treatment during the growing period. This was followed by CU vaccination during the production period in all except an untreated control group and resulted in no significant differences (P less than 0.05) in egg production, egg weight, fertility, hatchability, body weight, or feed consumption. Best liveability after post-production challenge with P-1059 strain of P. multocida was 92% for those treated with CU vaccine in both the grower and production periods. Hens receiving no cholera preventative treatment had only 8% liveability. These data indicate no adverse effect from treating turkey hens with CU vaccine during the production period.