Fractionation of a Chick Growth Depressing Factor From Rye

Abstract

Four experiments were conducted to study the growth depressing effect of rye in diets of young chicks. Rye was extracted with acetone in an attempt to duplicate results obtained by others working with rats or pigs. Rye was also extracted with water and the water soluble fraction was dried by different procedures. The distillate obtained by heat evaporation of water extract of rye was further fractionated using petroleum ether. All fractions obtained were incorporated in diets for chicks at levels approximately equivalent to those rye would supply in a diet formulated with this grain. Chicks received the different dietary treatments from day of age to two weeks of age. Data were collected on body weight, feed efficiency and feces condition.The results indicate that acetone extraction of rye had no effect on the growth depressing properties of this grain or on the sticky feces condition associated with its use in poultry feeding. Chicks receiving diets containing water extracted rye grew significantly better and had better feed efficiency than chicks on rye diets. Feces condition was significantly improved by the water extraction process and the dried water extract caused the sticky feces condition when added to a diet containing corn as the grain. Lyophilized water extract of rye was growth depressing whereas water extract dried by heat evaporation did not depress growth. The petroleum ether extract of the distillate of water soluble fraction of rye had no effect on chick growth or feed efficiency.