Lactose Supplementation Research Articles

The Effect of Lactose on Egg Production and Shell Quality

It has been well documented that the intestinal absorption of calcium is stimulated in the presence of lactose. This effect has been studied extensively in the rat (Lengemann, 1959; Lengemann et al., 1959), but only to a limited extent in the chick (Waibeland Mraz, 1964).Although the effects of lactose on calcium absorption of laying hens have not been studied as yet, we have tested its effect on the general calcium metabolism as reflected in the deposition of this mineral in the egg shell. If lactose were to stimulate calcium absorption in the laying hen, and if calcium absorption were the limiting factor in the transfer of calcium to the shell, then lactose supplementation should result in increased egg shell deposition.The trial was designed as a 2 × 2 factorial, two levels of dietary calcium, 3.0% and 2%, with or without supplementary lactose, at a level of 5%. The …

Effect of lactose on the utilization of phosphorus from colloidal phosphate by chicks.

SummaryThe effect of lactose, at levels of 5, 10 and 15% of purified and practical diets, on utilization by chicks of phosphorus from colloidal phosphate was studied. Data presented here demonstrated that utilization of colloidal phosphate by chicks was improved when diets were supplemented with lactose at levels to 10%. The pH of intestinal tract was lowered by lactose supplementation, although this effect was not uniform as lactose level increased.

Effect of Skim-milk, Lactose, Vinegar and Iodine on the Quantitative Character of a Coccidian Infection.

Skim-milk and lactose supplements in the diet were recommended by Beach and Davis1 as affording a considerable degree of protection against coccidiosis in poultry. The explanation of the claimed benefits was the production of an abnormal degree of acidity in the caeca of the birds, which in turn injured or destroyed the sporozoite or merozoite stages of the parasites. Since the rat is a favorable host for the study of a coccidian infection, an experiment was planned in which one series of hosts received the regular growing ration made up to 40% with skim-milk beginning 4 days before the date of the first infection and continuing throughout the experiment, and another series received its regular ration without skim-milk. Infection was accomplished by forced feeding of from 1,500 to 3,000 oocysts of Eimeria miyairii daily for 4 or 5 successive days. The counts of the oocysts eliminated in the fecal pellets were taken as the index of the infection intensity. Seventeen rats on the skim-milk diet eliminated fr...