Efficacy of spray-dried bovine serum on health and performance of turkeys challenged with Pasteurella multocida

Improvements in survival and performance during enteric challenges have been reported when plasma proteins have been consumed. However, the effect of plasma proteins during respiratory challenge has not been studied. The current study used 80 Nicholas turkey poults allotted to a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. Treatments consisted of challenge or no challenge and Innavax (INX)-treated water or untreated water. Tap water was mixed daily with 0 or 1.30, 0.65, 0.325, and 1.30% (wt/wt) INX on d 0 to 7, 8 to 14, 15 to 21, and 22 to 49, respectively. Spray-dried bovine serum was mixed with other ingredients (lactose, citric acid, lecithin, propylene glycol, and mineral oil) used as processing and mixing aids to produce INX. Poults were challenged on d 35 by swabbing the tonsils with Pasteurella multocida Type III. Consumption of INX during the first week improved performance in poults; whereas from d 8 to 35 performance was not affected by water treatment. After the challenge (d 35), INX did improve average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency. Innavax improved survival (d 35 to 49) of challenged poults (94.1% survival) compared with challenged poults consuming untreated water (63.2% survival). These data suggest that addition of INX to drinking water systems will increase performance of poults the first week after placement. Furthermore, addition of INX to drinking water reduced mortality in turkeys exposed to Pasteurella multocida in the present study.