Developmental and therapeutic effects of exogenous dietary 1,4-diaminobutane (putrescine) in turkeys

An investigation was made of the effects of exogenous dietary putrescine during the starter period of turkeys on growth, organ development and role in prevention and recovery from subclinical coccidial challenge. Polyamines, protein and DNA concentration of tissues, morphology of the small intestine and the ability of exogenous dietary putrescine to overcome the effects of an oral challenge to a mixed coccidial infection were determined. Practical diets were supplemented with 1,4-diaminobutane up to 0.6% for 21 days. In experiment 1, the feeding of 0.2% putrescine increased point growth rate. Feed intake and feed efficiency, however, were not affected by diet. In experiment 2, there was increased growth rate of turkeys with the feeding of 0.2--0.4% putrescine, and an increase in polyamine deposition in the intestinal tissues, liver and breast tissue. In experiment 3, the feeding of 0.2% putrescine caused a significant increase in duodenal weights and breast meat yields at 14 weeks of age while, no effect on production parameters was observed throughout the growth cycle. In experiment 4, morphometric indices of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum were positively affected by diets supplemented by 0.4% putrescine. In experiment 5, half the birds were orally challenged with a mixed coccidial infection to produce a significant depression in weight gain hopefully in absence of mortality. The infection resulted in reduced rate of growth and detrimental morphological changes in the small intestine of poults. There was a significant increase in the weight gains, protein content of jejunum and morphometric indices of duodenum, jejunum and ileum in challenged poults with feeding of 0.3% putrescine. It was concluded that dietary putrescine supplementation may be beneficial to poult growth, mucosal development of the small intestine and to recovery from subclinical coccidiosis.