The Effect of the Diet of the Hen on the Shank Color of Her Day-Old Chicks

Abstract

H AMMOND and Harshaw (1941) found that large quantities of fish oil hindered the transfer of xanthophyll pigments from the diet of the growing chicken to its shanks and skin. Culton and Bird (1941) found that certain meat scraps and fish meals had similar properties. Hammond (1941) found that, in general, suppression of shank color and incidence of encephalomalacia were closely associated. Hence, suppression of shank color is important as an indication of potential, induced vitamin E deficiency in chicks. As a result of these investigations the question was frequently raised whether or not the diet of a hen has an influence on the shank color of her newly-hatched chicks.During the investigation of gizzard lesions in day-old chicks by Miller and Titus (1941) at

Oxycarotenoids in Poultry Feeds

“…Hammond and Harshaw (352) reported fortified cod liver oil to be a potent source of a pigment-suppressing factor. Hammond et al (353) observed that large quantities of cod liver oil or small quantities of sulfur interfered with the transfer of pigment from the ration through the egg to shank of the 1-day-old chick. Mattson and Deuel (567) and Goldhaber et al (323) obtained similar effects with cod liver oil on shank pigmentation.…”