Influence of Vitamin B12 and Antibiotics on Hatchability

Abstract

SEVERAL investigators have reported that vitamin B12 is essential for hatchability, and that it can successfully replace animal proteins as a source of vitamin B12. A.P.F. supplements containing this vitamin improved hatchability with an all-vegetable diet as reported by Lindstrom et al. (1949a), Carver and McGinnis (1950a), and Hill et al. (1950). Crystalline vitamin B12 has also been shown to support good hatchability by Petersen et al. 1950), Carver and McGinnis (1950b), and Milligan and Combs (1950). This paper reports the results obtained when hens, which had received various levels of vitamin B12 for an 8-week experimental period, were returned to the all-vegetable basal ration. The value of feeding antibiotics on hatchability with or without vitamin B12 has been investigated and the results are presented. EXPERIMENTAL Ninety-six White Leghorn hens were placed in individual raised wire-bottom laying cages at approximately 5 months of age. A ration low in vitamin B12, . . .