The Effect of Quaternary Ammonium Derivatives in Chick Diets

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONRIEDEL, Barber and Hays (1949) were apparently the first to report beneficial results from the addition of quaternary ammonium compounds to chick diets. These workers added a mixture of two alkyl ammonium chlorides to chick diets at a level of approximately 23 mg. per pound of diet and observed growth improvements of 10.0 and 14.9 percent to 4 weeks of age in two experiments. Ely (1951) conducted a series of experiments with a variety of surface-active products and reported consistent growth-promotion in chicks, especially during the period of 4 to 8 weeks. However, most investigators have been unable to demonstrate consistent beneficial results using these products. Stern and McGinnis (1953) obtained no growth improvement as the result of dietary additions of quaternary ammonium compounds and an alkyl aryl sulfonate, compounds which Ely and Schott (1952) reported as possessing marked growth-promoting properties. The difference may be, as Stern has suggested, …