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

Abstract

EXPERIMENTAL evidence has been accumulating during the past 30 years to establish the fact that essential dietary factors are synthesized in the digestive tract of ruminants. A review of this literature was made by Hammond (1942). Only recently, however, have the fundamental principles with reference to the synthesis of vitamins and vitamin-like factors within the digestive tract or after the contents are voided been applied to chickens. Lamoreux and Schumacher (1940) found feces from laying hens contained no more riboflavin at time of defecation than was present in the feed from which they were produced. An approximate increase, however, of 100 percent in the riboflavin content of the feces occurred when they were held at room temperature for 24 hours and a 300 percent or more increase when they were held for 1 week. Schumacher and Heuser (1940) attempted to determine what factor might be responsible for the increased riboflavin . . .