Built-Up Floor Litter a Source of Dietary Factors Essential for Hatchability of Chicken Eggs

Vitamin B12 in the Nutrition of the Laying Hen

“…It is interesting to note, however, that no significant direct benefit of adding vitamin B l2 to the 15, 13 and 11% protein rations was obtained. These results are in agreement with those of Kennard et al (1948) v who obtained no better production from hens kept on old built-up litter than on freshly changed litter, even though the birds were apparently obtaining a factor from the built-up litter, presumably vitamin Bi 2 , which did promote hatchability. It is realized that in the present test the unknown quantities of vitamin B12 obtained from the litter could have masked the real effect of the vitamin on egg production.…”

“…In none of the six hatches was hatchability of fertile eggs below 70%, whereas, Lindstrom et al (1949), Olcese and co-workers (1950), Couch and associates (1950), and Carver and McGinnis (1950) have presented evidence showing that the hatchability of eggs produced by birds which received an all-vegetable protein diet and did not have access to their feces decreased rapidly and in most instances was below 50% within four weeks. The amount of vitamin B i2 activity, as indicated by hatchability, observed in the present trial with rations containing no added vitamin B 12 was unexpectedly high in view of the results of Kennard et al (1948), who obtained only a 32% hatch on shavings litter changed at two-week intervals as compared with 78% on built-up litter. In the present trial, over 70% hatchability was obtained after 168 days on wheat-straw litter changed at weekly intervals.…”

The Effect of Management on the Vitamin B12 Content of Poultry House Litter

“…Similarly, higher hatchability of eggs from hens kept on built-up litter was observed by Kennard, Bethke, and Chamberlin (1948) as compared to eggs from hens kept on frequently changed litter and fed an all-vegetable diet.…”

Coryneform Bacteria in Poultry Deep Litter

“…Deep litter has been reported to supply dietary factors essential to hatchability and growth of chickens (Kennard, Bethke & Chamberlin, 1948;. Such factors constitute the 'animal protein factor' most of the activity of which is now attributed to vitamin B12.…”