L. S. Jensen

Influence of Water-Treatment on Nutritional Value of Barley.∗:

Summary The results obtained in 2 independent experiments demonstrated that a simple water treatment of pearled barley markedly improved the nutritional value of this cereal grain. Treated barley was equal to corn for chick growth. The diet containing treated pearled barley gave significantly better (P<.01) feed efficiency than the diet containing corn or untreated pearled barley.

Dietary selenium status and plasma thyroid hormones in chicks.

Experiments were conducted to study the effect of marginal levels of selenium and vitamin E on plasma thyroid hormones of meattype chicks. Plasma thyroxine (T4) was significantly increased when a semipurified diet was supplemented with either selenium or vitamin E. Triiodothyronine (T3) was also significantly increased by vitamin E and in one experiment with selenium supplementation. No significant increase in these hormones was observed in birds fed a corn-soybean-meal diet supplemented with these nutrients. Plasma corticosterone level was reduced and weight of the bursa of Fabricius increased by selenium or vitamin E supplementation. These nutrients may be necessary for providing the optimum thyroid conditions for activity of thyroid peroxidase.

Glycolic acid and tryptophan effects on feed intake and hypothalamic indoleamines in chicks

The effect of intraperitoneal injections of glycolic acid, glycine or tryptophan on feed intake and hypothalamic levels of 5-hydroxy-tryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxy indole acetic acid (5-HIAA) was examined in chicks. Glycolic acid significantly depressed feed intake in a dose-dependent manner in comparison to saline or glycine, but only in birds injected with a level higher than 150 mg/kg body weight. The injection of glycolic acid or tryptophan but not glycine inhibited feed intake, and increased hypothalamic 5-HT and 5-HIAA 2 hr post-injection, as compared with saline injected controls. Blood plasma total lipids were elevated by all 3 compounds but plasma glucose was unaffected. The reduced feed intake obtained by injection of glycolic acid appears to result from an effect on the serotonergic system.

Effects of Vitamin E, N,N1-Diphenyl-Para-Phenylene Diamine, and Fish Liver Oil on Reproduction in Turkeys.

Summary Fish liver oil added to the diet greatly accentuated a deficiency of vit. E in turkey breeders. A reduction in fertility due to a vit. E deficiency was suggested. Both alpha tocopheryl acetate and DPPD counteracted the deleterious effect of fish oil on hatchability. With fish oil in the diet, tocopherol levels of the yolks of eggs were not appreciably increased by either vit. E or DPPD even though hatchability was near maximum.

Reduction in hepatic lipid and plasma estradiol in estrogenized chicks injected with ascorbic acid.

Abstract Injecting White Leghorn chicks every other day with 20 mg ascorbic acid significantly reduced the increase in liver weight and lipids caused by feeding a diet with 0.1% dienestrol diacetate. In chicks fed two different basal diets containing 0.1% dienestrol diacetate, injecting chicks every other day with 20 mg α-tocopherol did not significantly reduce liver weight or lipids while the ascorbic acid injections did. Injecting meat-type chicks implanted with estradiol with 10 mg ascorbic acid daily significantly reduced liver weight, liver lipids, and plasma estradiol, but injecting with 8 mg α-tocopherol daily had no significant effect.

Poultry Feed Ingredients for the Next Decade-A Review1

Abstract In view of the relatively minor changes in the type of feed ingredients used by the poultry industry during the last 10 to 15 yr, it is unlikely that there will be any major changes during the next decade. There are developments, however, that could result in either minor or major changes in feed ingredient usage by this industry. Successful commercialization of certain cultivars of cereal grains with nutritional changes beneficial for use in poultry feeds could result in less use of conventional corn. The demand for certain specific human foods such as oils high in Omega-3 fatty acids will make some change in the availability of feed ingredients such as canola meal, and may result in the use of other feed ingredients to increase the content of these fatty acids in poultry products. Concerns with environmental contamination by waste products from poultry production may eventually dictate changes in poultry feed formulation to increase the efficiency of dry matter utilization of the diet. This could result in the use of phytase to improve phosphorus utilization, lower protein diets with higher levels of synthetic amino acids to lower nitrogen excretion, and possibly change processing of soybean meals to lower undigestible carbohydrate content. Increased alcohol production for fuel may lead to greater quantities of fermented grain by-products for poultry feeding.