Leghorn-type hens in cages and floor pens were used to evaluate pigmenting potential for producing table-egg and intensely colored egg yolks from the xanthophylls in corn gluten meal, alfalfa and marigold meal and for 0-apo 8' carotenal (BAC) and the carotenoic acid ethyl ester (BACE). There were no consistent differences in utilization efficiencies between corn gluten meal, 20% protein dehydrated alfalfa meal, a 40% protein alfalfa concentrate, total xanthophyll extracts of corn or alfalfa or BAC. Xanthophylls in marigold meal, although most concentrated, were least utilizable and BACE was most efficiently utilized. Lutein isolated from alfalfa was not utilized as well at levels up to 22 p.p.m. as the xanthophylls of alfalfa meal or the alfalfa extracts, suggesting the presence of a factor in the latter materials which enhances xanthophyll utilization. Utilization was superior for caged hens vs. floor housed hens.

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Approximately 4000 Large White, day-old turkey poults were used in a series of eight experiments to study the effects of dietary copper supplementation. The hens were grown to 15 or 16 weeks and toms to 24 weeks of age. Either copper as the oxide or sulfate (hydrate) at 120 ppm stimulated growth up to 10% with a concurrent reduction in feed requirement. Levels of 60 ppm were not adequate, whereas 240 ppm were not toxic. There was a greater response to copper in the presence of 4-nitrophenylarsonic acid (4-nitro) or with low protein diets. In two of the eight studies copper enhanced aortic elastin content. Incidence of aortic rupture was greater in the presence of 4-nitro and was reduced by one-half through copper supplementation. Liver copper was not altered by 60 or 120 ppm Cu; 240 ppm caused a significant increase.