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Effects of Vitamin B12 and Crystalline Aureomycin on Growth of Poults
Research Notes EFFECTS OF VITAMIN Bn AND CRYSTALLINE AUREOMYCIN ON GROWTH OF POULTS H. J. ALMQTJIST AND J. B. MERRITT The Grange Company, Modesto,
California
(Received for publication September 29, 1950)
It has recently been reported that crystalline aureomycin will accelerate growth of young turkeys (Stokstad and Jukes, 1950). The pertinent literature was reviewed by these authors. The present studies, which had been completed prior to the appearance of the paper by Stokstad and Jukes, confirm and extend the work cited, inasmuch as similar results were obtained with a different basal diet, different variety of turkeys, and with separate sexes. The basal diet used had the following composition: solvent process soybean TABLE 1.—Growth effects of vitamin B12 and aureomycin in poults
Supplement* per kilo of diet
Average weights as a percentage of control weights Assay I
Assay II
Hens Toms Hens Toms None Vitamin Bu—22 microgm. Aureomycin—25 mg. Vitamin Bis—22 microgm. plus Aureomycin—25 mg. Crude Aureomycin residue—J%
100 106 127
100 112 124
100 102 121
100 105 120
123 117
118 111
123 115
118 114
* All supplements were kindly provided by Dr. T. H. Jukes, Lederle Laboratories, Pearl River, N. Y.
meal (48% crude protein) 50, bonemeal 3.7, limestone 1.5, salt 1.0, cottonseed oil 1.0, DL-methionine 0.5, manganese sulfate 0.03, and glucose to complete 100 parts. Vitamin supplements per 100 grams of basal diet were as follows: vitamin A 700 I.U., vitamin D 70 A.O.A.C. chick
units, riboflavin 1 mg., niacin 1 mg., thiamin 0.3 mg., choline chloride 100 mg. Broadbreasted Bronze poults were separated as to sex at 1 day of age and placed in battery cages. Eight poults were used per group. The birds were fed the basal diet alone and with supplements of crystalline vitamin B12 and aureomycin as indicated in Table 1. Two assays were conducted for approximately four weeks. The assays gave very similar results, which agree closely with the data of Stokstad and Jukes (1950), with the exception that perosis, or any other form of leg weakness, was not observed. There was practically no mortality. Maximal weights attained were normal for this, variety, approximately 460 grams at 4 weeks of age. It is evident that vitamin B12, added alone, caused only a minor increase in growth. On the other hand, aureomycin caused a uniformly large increase in growth. The combination of the two supplements was not more growth-promoting than aureomycin alone, which may indicate that these poults had a good reserve store of vitamin B12. Our results show that there was no appreciable sex difference in response to the supplements. REFERENCE Stokstad, E. L. R., and T. H. Jukes, 1950. Growthpromoting effect of aureomycin on turkey poults. Poultry Sci. 29: 611-612.
312
California
(Received for publication September 29, 1950)
It has recently been reported that crystalline aureomycin will accelerate growth of young turkeys (Stokstad and Jukes, 1950). The pertinent literature was reviewed by these authors. The present studies, which had been completed prior to the appearance of the paper by Stokstad and Jukes, confirm and extend the work cited, inasmuch as similar results were obtained with a different basal diet, different variety of turkeys, and with separate sexes. The basal diet used had the following composition: solvent process soybean TABLE 1.—Growth effects of vitamin B12 and aureomycin in poults
Supplement* per kilo of diet
Average weights as a percentage of control weights Assay I
Assay II
Hens Toms Hens Toms None Vitamin Bu—22 microgm. Aureomycin—25 mg. Vitamin Bis—22 microgm. plus Aureomycin—25 mg. Crude Aureomycin residue—J%
100 106 127
100 112 124
100 102 121
100 105 120
123 117
118 111
123 115
118 114
* All supplements were kindly provided by Dr. T. H. Jukes, Lederle Laboratories, Pearl River, N. Y.
meal (48% crude protein) 50, bonemeal 3.7, limestone 1.5, salt 1.0, cottonseed oil 1.0, DL-methionine 0.5, manganese sulfate 0.03, and glucose to complete 100 parts. Vitamin supplements per 100 grams of basal diet were as follows: vitamin A 700 I.U., vitamin D 70 A.O.A.C. chick
units, riboflavin 1 mg., niacin 1 mg., thiamin 0.3 mg., choline chloride 100 mg. Broadbreasted Bronze poults were separated as to sex at 1 day of age and placed in battery cages. Eight poults were used per group. The birds were fed the basal diet alone and with supplements of crystalline vitamin B12 and aureomycin as indicated in Table 1. Two assays were conducted for approximately four weeks. The assays gave very similar results, which agree closely with the data of Stokstad and Jukes (1950), with the exception that perosis, or any other form of leg weakness, was not observed. There was practically no mortality. Maximal weights attained were normal for this, variety, approximately 460 grams at 4 weeks of age. It is evident that vitamin B12, added alone, caused only a minor increase in growth. On the other hand, aureomycin caused a uniformly large increase in growth. The combination of the two supplements was not more growth-promoting than aureomycin alone, which may indicate that these poults had a good reserve store of vitamin B12. Our results show that there was no appreciable sex difference in response to the supplements. REFERENCE Stokstad, E. L. R., and T. H. Jukes, 1950. Growthpromoting effect of aureomycin on turkey poults. Poultry Sci. 29: 611-612.
312