Vanadium Toxicity in Laying Hens

Abstract

FOLLOWING our observations (Berg, 1963) that certain commercial phosphorus supplements contained sufficient vanadium to suppress growth of chicks when added to a corn-soy ration, a preliminary study was made to compare the performance of laying hens fed rations supplemented with “high vanadium” and “low vanadium” phosphate sources. The results of the preliminary test suggested that a more detailed study of the effects of adding varying levels of vanadium to a laying ration should be made. In the preliminary study, 40, approximately 12 months old, strain cross White Leghorn hens were divided into four groups of 10 each. The birds were kept in individual wire cages. Two diets, differing only as to source of tricalcium phosphate, were prepared using the formula of ration 1, Table 1. Each diet was fed to two groups for eight weeks. Haugh units and shell thickness were determined for three eggs laid by each bird…