EFFECT OF BARBITURIC ACID AND CHLORTETRACYCLINE UPON GROWTH, AMMONIA CONCENTRATION, AND UREASE ACTIVITY IN GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT OF CHICKS

Abstract

Experiments were conducted with a total of 38 lots of 15 chicks. Preliminary data from 22 lots indicate that the addition of either barbituric acid (1.28 g/kg) or chlortetracycline (0.1 g/kg) will enhance 4-week gains with diets containing either soybean meal or vitamin-free casein. An experiment with 16 lots fed a crude casein diet showed enhanced growth of 17% with barbituric acid and 25% with chlortetracycline. The combination improved gain 26%. At the time these chicks were killed, they had lowered gastrointestinal ammonia concentrations. Urease activity was also lowered in birds receiving these supplements but activity in the small intestine was variable. The data show that a cyclic urea compound can produce increased growth coincidently with decreased ureolytic activity and ammonia concentration in the gastrointestinal tract.