This trial was done by a company that raises ducks in the United States.
The purpose of the trial was to determine whether Agrastim®
(1) affected immune parameters
(2) whether it affected growth and feed conversion performance.

Ducklings were fed a feed containing Agrastim® at 45 grams/ton for 35 days.  At day 35, the ducklings were processed and the following parameters measured: complement activity, anti-galactose titers (anti-gal); immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM), total Immunoglobulin A (IgA), weight gain, feed conversion and mortality.  Anti-gal are antibodies developed against gut bacteria. Animals grown in sterile environments do not develop anti-gal antibodies, likewise, IgA is, in part, produced in response to noxious gut bacteria. 

Results:  Anti-gal titer (both IgG and IgM) was lower in ducklings fed the diet containing Agrastim®.  The lower titer of anti-gal suggests that Agrastim® in the diets reduces levels of various bacteria known to be inducers of anti-Gal, such as E. coli, Klebsiella, and Salmonella.

There was a significant decrease in the level of IgA in the ducklings fed the diet containing Agrastim®.  Since IgA is in the small intestine, it is produced in response to infectious agents in the intestine.  A decrease in IgA suggests a decrease in infectious agents in the intestine. In fact, the decrease in IgA and the concomitant decrease in infectious agents were correlated with a decrease in mortality in the flock.

In this trial, there was no difference in weight gain or feed conversion in the ducks fed Agrastim® compared to those fed control feed.  The value of breast meat of the flock fed Agrastim® was $55,516 versus $54,814 for the control, an increase of  $702.00,  marginally more than the cost of the addition of Agrastim®, ($629.00)

Conclusions:  The results of the trial clearly show that Agrastim® affects immune parameters in ducks (e.g. lower titers of anti-gal and IgA), suggesting a decrease in noxious bacteria in the gut.  In support of these results, is data obtained in an experiment in turkeys.  Specifically, it was found that early morning cloacal load of Salmonella was decreased by 30%, and the cloacal load of Clostridium was decreased by 50%.  The number of turkeys in the experiment was small and the trial will have to be repeated to obtain significant data.