23 



as compared to 30.5 and JU percent in the sun-dried meal. This would explain 

 why the poor results with sun-dried meals at higher levels are directly due to 

 thiami nase which was destroyed by the heat to which the commercial meal had been 

 subjected during drying. 



It is still probable that very high levels of calcium will adversely affect 

 the rate of growth of chicks, but this evidence indicates that as much as 12 per- 

 cent of starfish meal can be included in the diet and produce good growth if the 

 meal used is entirely free of thiaminase. Thiaminase is not a factor in the use 

 of commercially-dried starfish meals because it is easily destroyed by heat. The 

 probable presence of thiamine should be considered in any starfish meal dried at 

 temperatures of less than 75° C., as it is capable of adversely affecting growth 

 by rendering inactive considerable quantities of dietary thiamine. 



STARFISH MEAL IN LAYING MASHES FOR EGG PRODUCTION 



The value of starfish meal as a source of protein for growing chicks had been 

 demonstrated, and it was thought advisable to determine its value in egg production. 



Commercial laying mash feed con- 

 tains added sources of lime for egg 

 \ti j shell formation. The high calcium 

 *// content of starfish meal would ap- 

 pear to be a desirable feature in 

 this type of mash, rather than a 

 source of possible trouble. 



Since only limited facilities 

 were available for egg production 

 studies, the groups used were small- 

 er than would be necessary to give 

 the desired significance to dif- 

 ferences in the results. The only 

 available laying battery consisted 

 of 12 units , permitting only 6 hens 

 each for a control group and an experimental group. 



In the first series of tests, one hen in each group was unproductive or died 

 early in test, so that the final results are based on 5 hens in each group. The 

 hens had been raised from the first series of experimental chicks, the 12 best 

 pullets being chosen from all of the groups. They were fed a stock mash until 

 6£ months old. At this time all were laying. Hens from all 5 of the original 

 experimental groups were represented, and there was no indication whatever that 

 the retarded early growth on the high-calcivm diets had any affect on the future 

 rate of egg production. The composition of the mashes fed during the experimental 

 period is shown in Table 2. 



Starfish meal was fed the first group of hens at a 7.5 percent level, being 

 replaced in the control mash by 3.3 percent pilchard meal, 3-7 percent ground 

 oyster shell, and 0.5 percent lard to provide amounts of protein, calcium car- 

 bonate, and fat essentially equal in amount to the three chief nutrients of star- 

 fish meal . 



The results of the first series of laying tests were checked with those of a 

 second series of pullets raised from the chicks of the second series of growth 

 studies. The composition of these mashes is also shown in Table 2. There were 



