A research trial was conducted with laying hens from 143 to 311 days of age to study the influence of supplementary vitamin C (ascorbic acid) on various production parameters. Vitamin C at 0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 ppm was each fed to groups of 80 birds that were subdivided into 16 replicates of 5 birds each. The trial was initiated at onset of production when experimental diets were provided, and continued for six periods of 28 days each. The study was started during April and continued into September to subject birds to high environmental summer temperatures. Egg production, feed consumption, feed per dozen eggs, egg weights, egg specific gravity, and interior egg quality (Haugh units) were measured for each 28-day period. Egg production and egg weights were not significantly affected by dietary treatments except for the fifth 28-day period when egg production was slightly higher for the control group than for the vitamin C groups. Feed consumption was generally higher for the control group, and feed conversions were generally better for the groups supplemented with 50 and 100 ppm vitamin C. Egg specific gravity was significantly affected by diet in four of the six periods with eggs from the highest vitamin C treatments (200 and 400 ppm) generally having higher specific gravity values.

The protein quality and iron bioavailability of mechanically deboned turkey meat (MDT) and hand-deboned turkey meat (HDT) were determined in rats. The protein, fat, and moisture levels in MDT were similar to those found in HDT. The MDT, however, contained more ash, calcium, and iron than the HDT. The MDT and HDT had similar amino-acid patterns; methionine and cystine were the limiting amino acids for both products. The amino-acid scores were .97 and .98 for MDT and HDT, respectively. The protein efficiency ratio and biological value as well as the values for net protein utilization and nitrogen efficiency for growth for MDT were similar to those for HDT and reference casein (P greater than .05). The hemoglobin-regeneration efficiency values were 40, 39, and 55%, respectively, for MDT, HDT, and FeSO4 (least significant difference = 12%). The MDT contained more bioavailable iron (7.6 mg of iron per kg of meat or 4.1 mg of iron per 1,000 kcal) than the HDT (4.2 mg/kg or 2.4 mg/1,000 kcal). Mechanically deboning turkey meat did not affect its protein quality, but increased the amount of bioavailable iron.

Two experiments were conducted using 21-day-old, commercial-strain broilers to determine the effect of various commercial pigmentation products on pigmentation and bird performance. Birds received finisher/withdrawal diets that included 8% corn gluten meal or either a 2.5 or 5.0% substitution of gluten meal with Liquid OroGlo5, Dry Oroglo10, or Cromophyl-oro. When birds were slaughtered at either 48 or 51 days of age there were no differences in the birds' breast skin hue (dominant wavelength) or brightness (luminosity). Data indicated similar levels of pigmentation among birds in all treatments. Color intensity (excitation purity) values of shank and breast skin samples suggested that the liquid form of OroGlo was more effective than the dry form in pigmenting broiler skin when both forms were fed at equal calculated levels. Data indicated that actual xanthophyll intake was higher when the liquid source was fed. Body weight gain and feed efficiency among the treatments, in general, indicated that commercial pigment sources can be substituted for corn gluten meal without appreciably altering broiler performance.

Two trials were conducted with broiler chicks from hatch to 21 days of age to study the effects of feeding high moisture corn diets with and without a mold inhibitor, Monoprop®. High moisture corn (HMC) diets supported growth rates and dry matter feed conversion ratios as well as dry corn diets when Monoprop® was present in the feed even when the feed was seeded with moldy corn screenings. Without the mold inhibitor, body weight gains were depressed. This was not due to depressed feed intake as feed consumption for chicks on HMC diets without mold inhibitor was as high as other groups.