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THE value of distillery by-products in animal nutrition has been recognized for many years, and recently a new distillery by-product, distillers’ dried solubles, has been shown to be of value as a source of vitamins for the growing chick and laying hen. Henry (1900) reported an experiment carried out by a Finn in 1893 comparing distillers’ dried grains with oats for milk and butter production of cows. It was found that the cows on distillers’ dried grains produced about 12 percent more milk and 9 percent more butterfat than those fed oats. Insko et al. (1937) and Buckner and co-workers (1938) found that as much as four–fifths of the corn in rations for growing chicks could be replaced by distillery thick stillage. Allman and Branion (1938) stated that corn distillers’ dried grains, when added to a slow growing chick starting ration, improved growth and feather development. D’Ercole et al. . . .

In nutrition studies it is often desirable to conduct experiments designed to determine wherein one factor of a constituent of the diet is deficient. The method of determining such deficiencies is known as a biological analysis of a food-stuff and has been successfully used by many investigators. A detailed description of this method is given by McCollum (1). In this paper we desire to present the results of biological tests in determining the amino acid deficiencies of a certain commercial protein concentrate. EXPERIMENTAL Newly hatched White Leghorn chicks, of similar breeding and from flocks kept under uniform conditions, were used in these tests, using 18 chicks to each four lots. The chicks were confined in tables previously described (2). Each chick was banded and weekly weights were taken. A record was kept of the weekly food consumption. The meat meal product used in this test is described by the manufacturers . . .

ALMQUIST and Mecchi (1941) reported that the l -tryptophan requirement for optimum growth of chicks was 0.5 percent of the diet. Results obtained by Grau and Almquist (1944) indicated that the l -tryptophan requirement was 0.25 percent of the ration, and that d -tryptophan was not utilized by the chick. Wilkening and associates (1947) fed purified diets to chicks in which the major sources of protein were 12 percent of oxidized casein and 10 percent of gelatin supplemented with cystine and methionine. Using this ration with graded levels of tryptophan, the l -tryptophan requirement was reported to be 0.18 percent of the diet. Wilkening and Schweigert (1947) observed 17 to 40 percent utilization of d -tryptophan by the chick. The tryptophan requirement for poults was reported by Bird (1950) to be 0.28 percent of the diet for optimum growth and feed efficiency to three weeks of age. It was concluded that the poults were able . . .

NUMEROUS investigations concerning new and unidentified growth factors for chicks have been conducted in recent years. These have been reviewed by Hutchings, et al. (1946), Rubin and Bird (1946a) and Petering, et al. (1946). Carrick, et al. (1940) presented evidence for the presence of unidentified growth factors in commerical casein which could be extracted with ethanol and ether. Johnson, et al. (1942) showed that there was a factor present in casein and liver meal which was distinct from vitamin A, vitamin D, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, choline and pyridoxine. Synold, et al. (1943) demonstrated that distillers’ dried solubles contained the unidentified growth factor that is present in commercial casein as well as other growth factors found in dried skimmilk. A continuation of these studies is reported in this paper. EXPERIMENTAL A series of trials were conducted to obtain evidence whether distillers’ dried solubles contain a growth factor which is distinct . . .

GRAU (1947) indicated that chicks require 0.6 to 0.8 percent dl -phenylalanine in the diet plus an equal amount of tyrosine. Almquist (1952) and the National Research Council (1954) gave the requirement for phenylalanine as 1.6 percent of the diet, 0.7 percent of which may be replaced by tyrosine. Fisher (1956) found the phenylalanine requirement to be about 0.5 percent of the diet in the presence of excess tyrosine. Almquist and Grau (1944) indicated that 1.0 percent dl -threonine appeared to be insufficient to support growth in a diet composed of pure amino acids. Wilkening et al. (1947) stated that 0.67 percent l -threonine from oxidized casein and gelatin apparently satisfied the chicks’ requirement for threonine. Grau (1949) concluded that the l -threonine requiredent is approximately 0.45 percent of the diet. dl -threonine was only one-half as active as l -threonine. Lewis (1951) reported that a diet containing 27 percent crude protein from wheat gluten and . . .

PREVIOUS investigations at this Station have indicated a supplementary value for choline and methionine in a simplified corn and soybean oil meal ration. Gerry et al. (1948) found these factors to be interchangeable to a certain extent, but that methionine was of somewhat more value than choline. However, Clandinin et al. (1946) using a somewhat more complex ration concluded that choline and methionine cannot be considered interchangeable. Using four different soybean oil meals they found that only one was improved by choline, whereas all four were improved by methionine additions. However, their experiment was terminated when the chicks were four weeks of age. Gerry et al. found that 4 weeks was not sufficient time for bringing out these relative values. Almquist and Grau (1945) state that even if high levels of choline are employed the addition of cystine cannot compensate for a methionine deficiency. These authors have indicated (1944) that . . .

SINCE 1925 a rather extensive amount of literature has been published concerning the chick requirements for factors in the vitamin B complex. This literature has been recently reviewed by Ewing (1941). Little progress has been made since 1940 in the differentiation of new factors which may exist in this complex. Experiments by various investigators designed to determine the riboflavin requirements of chicks have given results which not only show lack of agreement but many inconsistencies. Studies at this station have revealed that results which are usually attributed to riboflavin might be due to other factors. Widaman (1940) showed that when chicks were fed a diet which contained corn, wheat, bran, minerals, cod liver oil, and casein, satisfactory growth was obtained. However, when casein which had been extracted with ether and ethanol was used, growth was markedly retarded. The addition of a riboflavin concentrate 2 at a level of 2 percent to . . .

NUMEROUS workers have investigated the supplementary effect of small amounts of animal protein feeds in diets containing vegetable proteins. Berry, Carrick, Roberts, and Hauge (1943) pointed out that the proteins of soybean oil meal were of excellent quality, but that rations containing soybean oil meal as a sole protein supplement were deficient in certain vitamins which were adequately supplied by additions of small amounts of animal protein feeds. This work has been confirmed by Hammond and Titus (1944), who mention the necessity of supplementing a diet containing soybean oil meal as the sole protein supplement with adequate vitamins and minerals. The same workers, however, state that “sardine fish meal is of outstanding value as a protein supplement to soybean meal.” Whether sardine meal is of value purely as a protein supplement (chiefly as a contributor of methionine) or partly as a vitamin supplement (choline and other vitamins) has not been . . .

The work of recent years has established the necessity of the fat soluble and the water soluble vitamins in the rations of chickens. In regard to the antiscorbutic vitamin, little data has been presented beyond demonstrating that an absence of this factor in the rations of fowls caused no apparent ill effects1–7. We have shown8 that cockerels which had been deprived of this vitamin for an extended period still had an abundant supply of the antiscorbutic substance in their livers and kidneys. Since the presence of this supply indicated that the antiscorbutic vitamin was necessary for the normal metabolism of the fowl, and that this abundant supply might be due either to carrying over of a previous storage of this factor in the body tissues on which there has been a conservative drain, or to synthesis of this factor from some source unavailable to the guinea pig, it was . . .

THE vitamin A requirement of young chickens was investigated as early as 1927, when Hauge, Carrick and Prange attempted to determine the amount of yellow corn necessary to supply vitamin A. Since that date numerous investigations have been made. The requirements reported by investigators have ranged from 80 (Record, Bethke and Wilder, 1935) to 1,332 (Schroeder, Higgins and Wilson, 1935) International units of vitamin A per 100 grams of feed. Ewing (1947) presents an extensive review of the literature. It has been reported by Tepper and Durgin (1938) that there is an increased requirement for vitamin A as the chick increases in age. Most investigators except With and Wanscher (1939) have reported that carotene is as efficient as vitamin A in promoting chick growth. Bearse and Miller (1937) showed that the chick reserves of vitamin A at hatching time have a direct bearing upon livability. Bolin and co-workers (1943) reported . . .

DURING the past few years, experiments have been in progress at this Station to study the deficiencies of chick rations consisting largely of corn and soybean oil meal supplemented with minerals and vitamins A and D. Recent work by Berry et al. (1943), Marvel et al. (1945a), (1945b), and (1945c) has indicated that soybean oil meal is adequate in protein quality, but deficient in some of the vitamins supplied by animal products. In the early trials it was evident that the vitamin B complex deficiencies of corn and soybean oil meal are riboflavin, nicotinic acid, choline, pantothenic acid, and perhaps other unrecognized factors. Whey solubles, distillers’ dried solubles, and condensed fish press water (fish solubles) have been studied as vitamin supplements for the corn-soybean oil meal ration. Each of these may have a place in supplementing corn and soybean oil meal with the B complex vitamins, but no one is . . .

NUMEROUS investigators including Osborne and Mendel (1917), Vestal and Shrewsbury (1932), Robison (1930), Hayward, Steenbock, and Bohstedt (1936), Wilgus, Norris, and Heuser (1936) Fritz, Kramke, and Reed (1947), and others have observed that the nutritive value of soybean protein is greatly increased by heat. Mitchell and Smuts (1932), and Hayward, Steenbock and Bohstedt (1936a) observed that the addition of cystine to diets containing raw soybeans resulted in appreciable growth increases. Then the work of Rose et al. (1936), Womack, Kemmerer, and Rose (1937), and Rose (1937) proved that methionine was indispensable in the diet, but that cystine could replace part of the methionine effectively. Hayward and Hafner (1941) found that the protein of raw soybeans was effectively supplemented by 0.3 percent cystine, but even better by 0.3 percent methionine. Autoclaving the soybeans increased the nutritional value of the protein much in the same manner as did cystine and methionine supplements . . .

CHOLINE has been shown by Jukes (1940, 1941) to prevent perosis and promote growth in turkeys and chicks. Soybean oil meal was observed to have perosis-preventing and growth-promoting properties. These were ascribed at least in part to the choline content of the meal. Confirmatory evidence of the role of choline in preventing perosis and promoting growth in chicks has been reported by Hegsted and others (1941) and Record and Bethke (1942). Methionine was shown by Jukes (1941) to have no growth-promoting or perosis-preventing properties when added to a basal ration containing 30 percent casein. This suggested that methionine does not act as a precursor of choline for the chick. Conversely, it has been demonstrated by Griffith and Wade (1939) that methionine may act as a precursor of choline for the rat. On the other hand, choline has been reported by Klose and Almquist (1941) to act as a precursor of . . .

SEVERAL studies evaluating the supplementary use of distillers’ dried grains and distillers’ dried solubles in poultry rations have been reviewed by Synold et al. (1943). Marvel et al. (1944, 1945a, 1945b, 1945c) have presented additional data concerning distillers’ dried solubles as vitamin supplements in chick rations. They have shown that this prodduct could replace dried skimmilk in certain chick starting rations and that it was a valuble supplement in a simple “meatless” ration consisting cheifly of corn, soybean oil meal, and alfalfa leaf meal. Boruff et al. (1940) emphasized the potency of distillers’ dried solubles in the B complex vitamins, especially riboflavin and pantothenic acid. Other experiments on the supplementary value of distillery by-products have been reported by Sloan (1941), Shea et al. (1941), Halpin and coworkers (1942), and Nelson et al. (1944), and others. These investigations indicated that distillers’ dried solubles was a fair source of several B complex . . .

RAW ROCK PHOSPHATE IN LAYING RATIONS HART, McCollum, and Fuller (1909) and Hart, Steenbock and Fuller (1914) reported favorable results from the feeding of rock phosphate in pig rations. However, Forbes, et al. (1921) obtained inferior gains and weak bones with low ash content when pigs were fed rock phosphate in place of limestone and steamed bone meal. Taylor (1929) found that the fluorine in rock phosphate had a very detrimental effect upon dairy animals. Results of the work of Wheeler (1903), Hartwell and Kirkpatrick (1911) and Lewis (1913) indicated that bone ash was superior to raw rock phosphate for chickens. Kennard, Holder, and White (1922) reported that when raw rock phosphate was substituted for steamed bone meal the egg production of hens was not affected, and Buckner, Martin, and Insko (1929) found that although rock phosphate interfered with the early growth of chickens it did not interfere with normal . . .

AS EARLY as 1936, Arnold et al. demonstrated that casein was grossly deficient in arginine for young chicks. When casein was used as a source of protein, diets containing 0.57 or 0.86 percent arginine were greatly improved by arginine supplements, arginine carbonate or arginine HCl. Klose et al. (1938) showed that gains on a 20 percent casein diet were increased by the addition of 0.5 percent l -arginine HCl. Hegsted et al. (1941a) reported an increase in chick muscle creatine by adding 1 percent glycine and 0.5 percent arginine to a diet in which 18 percent casein and 10 percent yeast were used as sources of protein. A rapid feathering breed (White Leghorns) showed a greater growth response from the addition of arginine than a slower feathering breed (Plymouth Rocks). Hegsted et al. (1941b) reported that 5 percent gelatin added to an 18 percent casein diet usually supported good growth; however, . . .

In the preceding paper1 experiments were reported in which studies were made of the calcium-phosphorus requirements of growing chicks under rachitic conditions. The minerals consisted of salt mixtures in which the calcium-phosphorus ratio was varied as well as the levels of mineral in the ration. Since satisfactory growth was not attained with these salt mixtures, it seemed advisable to use natural minerals in these studies. EXPERIMENTAL The general plan of these experiments as regards the methods of selection, feeding, and management of the chicks and the records kept were the same as used in the preceeding experiments.1 In the four trials reported in this paper Barred Plymouth Rock chicks were used. As in the previous experiments, precautions were taken to prevent the exposure of the chicks to direct sunlight, or even direct skylight. The composition of the rations is given in Tables I and II. The results obtained are given . . .

WIETLAKE et al. (1954) reported a growth response, improved feathering, and elimination of an abnormal gait by adding arginine to a methionine supplemented 35 percent casein diet. Wietlake et al. (1954) and Savage et al. (1955) concluded that purified diets containing 25 percent casein, 10 percent gelatin, and methionine were partially inadequate as a source of protein for young chicks. Snyder et al. (1954) found a steady increase in growth up to an arginine level of 1.67 percent arginine in a 22 percent casein diet. Addition of arginine to a corn-soybean oil meal diet did not result in a significant growth response. Snyder et al. (1956) found a diet composed of 18 percent casein and 10 percent gelatin to be deficient in arginine. A total of 1.73 percent arginine was needed for maximal growth in a casein diet. A practical corn-soybean oil meal diet, calculated to contain 1.11 percent arginine . . .

The value of tankage for laying stock has been repeatedly demonstrated at various experiment stations. Philips1 was perhaps the first to use tankage as the chief protein concentrate in a ration for mature birds. He states: “Although the egg production varied from year to year, the general tendency was for meat scraps and tankage to be equally efficient.” Mitchell, Kendall, and Card.2 working with young chicks in order to determine their vitamin requirements, used tankage as the sole source of animal protein concentrate in the ration with apparently satisfactory results. Hughes, Titus, and Witham,3 in a study of the prevention of rickets in growing chicks, also used tankage as the animal protein concentrate in the ration. These workers were evidently satisfied with the rate of growth as they do not make any statement to the contrary. A survey of the literature has not revealed any data from experiments in which . . .

MIXED grain rations including wheat, oat and corn products have been popular in the Mid-West for some time. However when certain of these feeds are included in large quantity in chick rations a reduced growth rate has often resulted. Heuser et al. (1945) have shown a reduced growth rate and decreased efficiency from the feeding of high fiber rations. Some of these rations contained bran and middlings. Mishler et al. (1946) found that when 10 percent each of wheat bran and standard wheat middlings replaced corn in a simplified corn and soybean oil meal ration, growth was retarded and more feed was required per unit of gain. Carrick and Roberts (1947) noted that when 10 percent each of wheat bran and wheat middlings replaced 20 percent ground yellow corn in a ration known to give rapid growth, feed efficiency and rate of growth decreased. Roberts and Carrick (1934) compared chick . . .

THE essential nature of methionine in the diet of the chick was demonstrated by Klose and Almquist (1941). Homocystine and choline together effectively replaced methionine in the diet of the chick, but neither homocystine nor cystine completely replaced methionine. Direct proof of the homocystine-choline-methionine interrelationship in the rat was presented by Simmonds et al. (1943). Transmethylation was observed both in the absence of homocystine and in the presence of ordinary methionine when the diet contained deuterio-choline. Du Vigneaud et al. (1944) reported results which demonstrated the role of methionine in cystine formation. Grau and Almquist (1943) investigated the relationship between the sulfur amino acids and choline in chick nutrition. Choline-depleted chicks were able to utilize homocystine effectively in the place of cystine but not as a substitute for methionine. Almquist and Grau (1945), using a diet deficient in methionine and cystine, fed increasing levels of cystine up to 0.9 percent . . .

HAUGE and Carrick (1926) were the first to present evidence that a growth-promoting factor, later known as vitamin G, is required by poultry in addition to vitamin B1. Norris et al. (1930) and Bethke et al. (1931), using a milk vitamin concentrate as a source of vitamin G, confirmed the findings of Hauge and Carrick. Heiman (1935) found that one pound of dried whey was very nearly equivalent to 1.5 pounds of dried skimmilk. Other work on the vitamin B complex requirement of chicks has been reported by Heuser, Wilgus, and Norris (1938), Hunt, Winter, and Bethke (1939), Carter and O’Brien (1939), Jukes (1939), Hegsted, Oleson, Elvehjem, and Hart (1940), Widaman (1940), Carrick et al. (1940), and others. EXPERIMENTAL These experiments were conducted to find the supplementing value of whey solubles on a basal ration consisting largely of ground yellow corn and expeller process soybean oil meal. Whey solubles consists . . .

BERRY et al. (1943), have shown that feeds of animal origin, in addition to their protein value, are excellent sources of several vitamins. Mishler et al. (1946), showed that rapid growth could be obtained with a ration containing 55 percent of corn and 40 percent of soybean oil meal, when supplemented with four synthetic B complex vitamins, a simple mineral mixture, and vitamin A and D fish oil. This result suggested that soybean oil meal is a satisfactory source of protein for rapid growth in young chicks. However, soybean oil meals show some variation in supplementary value for choline and methionine. Marvel et al. (1944), have pointed out that when methionine or choline deficiencies do occur they may be offset by additions of either choline chloride or methionine. Berry et al. (1945), using fish press water (now called condensed fish solubles) found that an ethanol extract of this product, which . . .

RELATIVELY few studies have been made of the absorption of nutrients by poultry. The standard methods for studying feed utilization require the collection of all feces resulting from the feeding of a selected quantity of the feedstuff. These methods necessitate elaborate precautions to obtain accurate feed consumption records and to obtain uncontaminated feces. Bergeim (1926) has suggested modifications of the usual procedures which eliminate many of the difficulties of the standard methods. In Bergeim’s method iron oxide or other suitable substance not utilized by the animal is added to the diet and the ratio of feed to feces calculated by determining the amount of that substance in the feed and in the feces. Heller, Breedlove, and Likely (1928) compared Bergeim’s modified procedures with standard methods for rats and obtained similar values for feed utilization; they concluded, however, that the normal iron content of their diets was more satisfactory than ferric . . .

Many rations have been devised for growing chicks. Some of them have been successful. It appears that the chief ambition of most designers of chick rations has been to set up some complex system which requires the skill of an expert accountant if all details are to be properly administered. The ration which we are proposing is one which we have demonstrated as supplying in adequate amounts the necessary nutritional factors for obtaining what is usually considered satisfactory growth during the entire period preceding egg pro-production. This ration is made up of six commonly available ingredients which are relatively inexpensive sources of the substances they supply. The method of feeding requires no time table and there is no guess-work as to how much should be fed at a given time to chicks of a given age. Furthermore, this ration is self-contained, except for direct sunlight and drinking water, and is . . .

JUKES (1940a, b) found 25 to 40 percent of soybean oil meal to be a satisfactory source of choline for the prevention of perosis. The amount of total choline in soybean oil meal as given by Engel (1942) is sufficient to satisfy the chick’s requirement for choline, if the total choline were available. Berry et al. (1943) have presented data indicating the lack of an adequate amount of available choline for rapid growth in rations containing approximately one-third soybean oil meal. In studies on whey solubles, choline was the limiting factor in the rations used. Jukes (1942) used expeller processed soybean oil meal. Communication with the processor indicates that the soybean oil settlings or “foots” were added back to the meal at the time that Jukes obtained his meal. The settlings from soybean oil are known to be rich in lecithin, from which choline is derived (Record and Bethke, 1942). . . .

The need for the fat-soluble A in the diet of growing chicks has long been established. Steenbock and Boutwell1 found that yellow corn contained some of this substance. Hart, Steenbock, Halpin and Johnson2 have reported satisfactory results when growing chicks upon a ration in which the dry feed contained approximately 72 per cent yellow corn, as the chief source of fat-soluble A. The ration included also skimmilk ad libitum which would supply very little fat-soluble vitamin. So far as we are aware, no one has reported any experiments to determine the minimum amount of fat-soluble A required for growing chicks. Such a determination would be of considerable value in practical feeding as well as in laboratory technic. We have, therefore, conducted experiments to determine the amount of yellow corn necessary to provide fat-soluble A for growing chicks when using a basal ration very poor in this vitamin. EXPERIMENTAL Three lots . . .

SINCE the discovery of vitamin B12 there have been numerous reports concerning the presence of additional factors required by chicks for maximum growth. Menge, Combs and Shorb (1949) showed that liver products and dried whey contained an unidentified growth factor required by chicks fed a purified diet. Subsquently, Combs et al. (1950) using a practical type of ration presented evidence of two unidentified factors in liver. Chicks responded significantly to levels of liver paste dialysate, containing either of these factors, which supplied unappreciable amounts of vitamin B12. Menge, Combs and Hsu (1951) described the response of chicks and poults to two separate unidentified factors, one of which was contained in certain liver preparations and dried brewers’ yeast, and the other in dried whey. A description of some physical and chemical properties of the liver factor indicated its nonidentity with vitamin B12. Reed et al. (1951) reported that dried whey improved . . .

DANN and Handler (1941) stated that the hatched chick contained ten times as much niacin as the unincubated egg. This led the authors to suggest that the hatched chick is able to synthesize niacin and is therefore independent of a dietary supply of this vitamin. Snell and Quarles (1941) observed that niacin is synthesized by the chick embryo to the extent that the final amount present is twenty times that originally present in the unincubated egg. They presumed that the synthesizing powers of the embryo are retained by the chick and, if so, it would indicate that niacin is not required in the diet of the chick. Briggs et al. (1942) reported that niacin is essential in the diet of chicks for optimal growth and to prevent “chick blacktongue.” They found niacinamide equally effective in stimulating growth and preventing blacktongue. Studies by Briggs et al. (1943) indicated that a dietary . . .

SYNOLD (1942) has reported a choline deficiency in a corn and soybean oil meal ration containing distillers’ dried solubles as a vitamin supplement. It was suggested that the method of processing might affect the choline content or availability. Choline had previously been shown by Jukes (1940, 1941) to be an anti-perotic and growth-promoting factor for chicks. Berry and associates (1943a) reported choline to be a limiting factor in chick rations containing approximately one-third soybean oil meal, but containing no animal protein supplements. Later Berry and associates (1943b) conducted experiments comparing soybean oils and oil meals produced by expeller and solvent processes. However, the rations used were different from the original rations of Synnold (1942) in that whey solubles was used as a vitamin supplement instead of distillers’ solubles. Therefore, additional experiments were conducted in which the vitamin supplement was distillers’ dried solubles, and the experiments were extended to include a . . .

KERNKAMP (1925) and Welch (1928) were the first to describe goiter in poultry in the United States. Hamilton and Kirk (1930), Forbes (1932), and Holmes et al. (1934) were unable to increase growth rate by iodine supplementation of the chick diet; the diet used by Forbes contained 1,000 p.p.b. iodine, while that of Holmes contained 500 p.p.b. No analyses are quoted by Hamilton and Kirk, but their diet undoubtedly contained considerable iodine because of the high content of meat products used. In 1939 Patton, Wilgus and Harshfield produced goiter in White Leghorn chicks by feeding a corn-soybean oil meal basal ration containing 145 p.p.b. iodine. Thyroid weights were 130, 240 and 294 percent of the control-fed 500 p.p.b.—at 6, 12, and 18 weeks respectively. In extreme cases the thyroids were enlarged to 20 times the normal weight. Histological examinations of the enlarged glands showed an absence of colloid and . . .

A DESCRIPTION of distillery by-products, and a review of the literature concerning the utilization of these by-products in poultry rations, has been given by Synold et al. (1943). Distillers’ dried solubles has been reported to be a good source of riboflavin and other vitamins of the B complex (Bauernfeind et al., 1944). Experiments have shown that the dried solubles can replace dried skimmilk in certain chick growing rations (Sloan, 1941). However, most of the experimental rations used by previous investigators contained meat and bone scraps or other animal protein supplements. These animal protein feeds are known to be relatively rich sources of some B complex vitamins. Therefore, additional experiments utilizing distillers’ solubles in more simplified rations containing corn, soybean oil meal and alfalfa leaf meal, with vitamin and mineral additions, should prove helpful in indicating the supplementary value of this distillery by-product in chick rations. EXPERIMENTAL Feeding experiments were conducted . . .

MINERALS are known to have a deleterious effect on vitamin stability (Kamstra et al., 1953; Halverson and Hart, 1950; and Halverson and Hendrick, 1955); however, little information is available on manganese compounds. Miller et al. (1942) reported that manganese sulfate destroyed vitamin D when a level of .5% was in cluded in a diet containing 9.2% cod liver oil. The vitamin A was not destroyed. When manganese sulfate was added to a commercial feed, no measurable loss of vitamin D occurred. Halverson and Hendrick (1955) concluded that manganese sulfate alone did not affect stability of vitamin A. EXPERIMENTAL Barred Plymouth Rock chicks were used in the growth phases of this experiment. They were brooded in electrically heated starting batteries for the first 4 weeks, then transferred to finishing batteries. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum. All vitamin assays were made by methods approved by the Association of Vitamin Chemists…

NUMEROUS investigators have noted differences in the manganese requirements of various breeds of chickens for perosis prevention. Chickens of the heavy breeds generally require more manganese than those from light ones. (Gallup and Norris, 1939; and Golding et al., 1940.) The gross appearance of the perotic tibia has been described by several workers (Serfontein and Payne, 1934; Gallup and Norris, 1938; and Caskey et al., 1939). In most cases the tibia is shorter and increased in diameter, and the hock joint enlarged. Since no previous attempts to assess the role of body weight in the development of perotic lesions in the limbs has been made, it was considered desirable to do so. EXPERIMENTAL Six-hundred Barred Plymouth Rock chicks of both sexes were distributed equally into three groups and fed diets containing 7, 20, and 100 p.p.m. of manganese. The manganese-deficient basal diet (Table 1) was analyzed for manganese using the…

Since cod liver oil has come into rather general use in poultry feeding, there has been considerable speculation concerning the effect of cod liver oil upon the flavor of poultry meat. Any unpleasant flavor in poultry meat would naturally have considerable effect upon market demand, and, therefore, market price. So far as we are aware, no definite tests along this line have been reported, although it has occasionally been stated that chickens slaughtered immediately following cod liver oil feeding would have a “fishy” taste. We therefore undertook these studies in order to get some definite idea of the degree to which different levels of cod liver oil in the diet would influence the flavor of poultry meat, as well as to determine the persistency of such flavor after the discontinuance of cod liver oil from the diet. EXPERIMENTAL Thirty White Leghorn chickens were used in this work. They were reared . . .