Studies with Chickens and Turkeys on the Relationship Between Fat, Unidentified Factors and Pelleting

Abstract

ALLRED et al. (1957a) have reviewed the literature on pelleting. These workers found that the pelleting effect of increased growth and feed efficiency was obtained whether or not animal fat was added to the ration. Also, rations containing protein levels varying from 20 to 24% gave the same response to pelleting. These workers noted a growth response to pelleting even when the pellets were ground to a particle size and density similar to the original mash. They concluded that a large part of the increased growth and feed efficiency effect obtained by pelleting may be due to some chemical change, possibly the inactivation of a growth inhibitor in the feed. Allred et al. (1957b) confirmed their previous observation that, in addition to increasing density, pelleting also brings about a change not explainable by an alteration in the physical form of the ration. This “chemical” change was found to affect the…