Effect of Various Dried “Greens” on Blood Spot Incidence in Chicken Eggs

Abstract

DEHYDRATED alfalfa and grass meals are accepted components of poultry rations. In addition to supplying nutrients, they serve as an economical means of providing dietary pigments for desired yolk and skin color.The effect of dehydrated alfalfa on blood spot incidence in eggs would appear to be in controversy. Carver and Henderson (1948) reported a definite, but nonsignificant, decrease in blood spot incidence with the addition of 15 percent dehydrated alfalfa to the ration. A significant reduction in blood spots in eggs of White Leghorn hens upon addition of 10 percent dehydrated alfalfa to a basal ration with no “greens” was reported by Sauter et al. (1952). More recently, however, Sauter et al. (1964, 1965) have presented evidence that the addition of either dehydrated alfalfa or menadione sodium bisulfite complex (MSBC) to a low vitamin K diet fed to White Leghorn hens maintained in wire floored cages caused an increase …