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The Utilization of Carotene from Different Sources by Laying Chickens¹

Four Figures

Chemistry and Poultry Sections, Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station, Fort Collins

Liver reserves of vitamin A in laying pullets partially depleted of their vitamin A and carotene reserves continued to decline when carotene equivalent to 2,000 I.U. of vitamin A activity per pound of ration was supplied in the form of carotene in cottonseed oil, fresh alfalfa, and dehydrated alfalfa meal. The carotene in oil was utilized less efficiently than that in the alfalfas. The carotene in fresh alfalfa was utilized somewhat more efficiently than that in dehydrated alfalfa meal. Vitamin A from fish liver oil, fed at the same level of vitamin A activity, enabled laying pullets to increase gradually their reserves of vitamin A in the liver.

The amounts of vitamin A and carotene in the eggs laid were greatest from pullets receiving the alfalfa supplements, while the next highest were from pullets receiving carotene in oil.

The total potential vitamin A activity in eggs from the pullets receiving the alfalfa supplements was about twice that of the eggs from birds receiving carotene in oil and three times that of birds receiving vitamin A from fish liver oil. Thus, vitamin A was superior in building liver reserves of the vitamin, while carotene from alfalfa, fresh or dehydrated, was superior in transfer of vitamin A and carotene to the egg. Alfalfa appears to carry a factor which enhances the utilization of carotene.

Manuscript received 8 August 1949.