Effect of Bacillary White Diarrhea Infection on Egg Production

It is generally conceded that infection with salmonella pullora, the causative organism of Bacillary White Diarrhea, affects reproduction in the domestic fowl. The average fertility and hatchability of eggs and livability of chicks have been shown to be decreased by Bacillary White Diarrhea infection and it has been assumed that egg production was likewise affected, but no conclusive data have been published to support this assumption. A difference in the total annual egg production of reactors and non-reactors is, in fact, not specifically referred to in the literature on the subject. Hooker’s1 complete review of Bacillary White Diarrhea infection of fowls, Beaudette’s2 briefer review of the same subject and the more recent publication of Bushnell, Hinshaw and Payne3 fail to throw any light on the effect of the disease on the egg production of fowls. Rettger and Stoneburn4 note that infected hens seem to be poor layers especially in the . . .