No abstract

Studies in this report examined the possibility of utilizing soybean meal processed to a higher urease value for broiler chickens. Such meals might be produced with lower energy costs and possible savings to the feed manufacturer. Untoasted, solvent-extracted dehulled soybean flakes were subjected to differing cooking times in an autoclave and in a steam-jacketed mixer with steam sparging to produce flakes with a range of urease values.Results of these studies indicate that soybean flakes with urease in excess of .2 pH rise were acceptable for use in diets for broiler chickens. A pH rise of up to .5 units, similar to that used by the European Economic Community, would appear justified for soybean meals processed for broiler chickens. (

Three experiments were conducted to compare different methods of short-term potentiation of tetracycline antibiotics for broiler chicks. Reduction of dietary calcium and addition to sodium sulfate were compared in different combinations with various levels of chlortetracycline (CTC) and oxytetracycline (OTC). Reducing dietary calcium from 0.8 to 0.4% significantly increased serum levels of CTC and OTC. Adding sodium sulfate (1.25%) also increased serum levels; the majority of the response occurred at the higher calcium level. There was no benefit from adding sodium sulfate to the low-calcium diet. Neither body weight gain nor feed utilization were adversely affected during the 5-day test period.