Combined effects of deoxycorticosterone and furaltadone on Escherichia coli infection in chickens.

After low antibody-response line chickens were challenge exposed with Escherichia coli, 10% of the controls, 35% of those fed furaltadone , 37% of those fed deoxycorticosterone (DOC), and 92% of those fed furaltadone and DOC gained weight. Concentrations of DOC above or below the optimal concentration (40 mg/kg of feed) were less effective, eg, when 100 mg of DOC/kg of feed was fed with furaltadone , 45% of low antibody-response line birds gained weight as compared with 85% of the birds when furaltadone was fed alone. However, the optimal amount of DOC did vary among genetic stocks and with environment. Stocks of birds also differed in their response to the concentration of furaltadone and DOC. Socialization increased the effectiveness of furaltadone .