The Relationship of Vitamin K to the Incidence of Blood Spots in Eggs and Blood Prothrombin Time of Layers

Abstract

We are aware of only one report indicating that supplemental vitamin K decreases the incidence of blood spots in eggs (Berruti and Didrick, 1961). A recent report by Suater et al. (1963) indicates that supplemental alfalfa meal, a rich source of vitamin K, increases egg blood spotting. Waldroup and Harms (1962) added dicumarol, a vitamin K antagonist, to a layer ration and failed to significantly increase blood spotting of eggs. These workers also concluded that blood prothrombin time was not related to the incidence of blood spots in eggs.The present study was conducted to determine the effect of menadione sodium bisulfite complex (MSBC) and alfalfa meal on blood spotting of eggs and to determine if there is a relationship between blood prothrombin time and the incidence of blood spots in eggs. EXPERIMENTALWhite Leghorn layers were maintained in individual cages and allowed feed and water ad libitum. Three basal…