102 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 378 



in the rati®ns were 20, 34, 46, and 60 parts per million. Perosis developed 

 in the two lots of chicks receiving the rations with 20 and 34 parts per 

 million of manganese. It was concluded that perosis in Rhode Island 

 Reds can be secured by feeding the perotic ration when its manganese 

 level is not higher than 34 parts per million. The commercial calcites 

 proved to be satisfactory sources of manganese for chicks in the preven- 

 tion of perosis. 



Manganese Absorption in Fowls. (Marie S. Gutowska, with E. M. 

 Parrott and F. S. Slesinski of the Department of Chemistry cooperating.) 

 By the use of the isolated intestinal loop technique, the total amount of 

 manganese absorbed from solutions of MnS04.H20 in 0.9 percent NaCl 

 by Rhode Island Red cocks and hens was found to be proportional to 

 the concentration of manganese in- the loop. The percentage absorption 

 of manganese from solutions containing Id, 40, and 10 p. p.m. averaged 

 35.8, 28.4, and 44 percent, respectively, in two hours. The amount of 

 manganese absorbed per hour per kilogram of body weight in the fowl 

 was relatively small compared with the amount of sugar or phosphorus 

 reported absorbed by rats. Statistical analysis of results indicates that 

 the difference in the absorption of manganese in males and females is 

 not significant. 



Manganese was still available for absorption when calcium (Ca(N03)2) 

 and phosphorus (NaH.POi.H^O) or (Na2 glycerophosphate) were placed 

 in the solution in the ratio of 3.91 to 1. An "in vitro" experiment, per- 

 formed at 41° C, the normal body temperature of the fowl, using the 

 same systems, indicated that practically all the manganese was still pres- 

 ent in the solution after the precipitate which formed was filtered ofif. 



A relatively small amount of manganese diffuses from the isolated 

 intestinal loop in dead birds. 



The Use of Corn Distillers Grains with Solubles in Poultry Rations. 



(Raymond T. Parkhurst and F. L. Dickens, with C. R. Fellers of the 

 Department of Horticultural Manufactures cooperating.) Corn distillers 

 dried grains with solubles satisfactorily replaced the dried skimmilk, all 

 the dried skimmilk and fish meal, or all the fish meal and part of the 

 meat scraps in the 1939-1941 New England College Conference laying 

 ration. These substitutions had no effect on egg production, egg weight, 

 body weight, egg quality, or feed efficiency, but lessened hatchability. 

 When the corn distillers dried grains with solubles were used at a 40 

 percent level in the Conference growing ration, a desirable flushing effect 

 was obtained in young growing birds affected with coccidiosis. 



When "complete" laying rations were supplemented with mash, it made 

 no marked difference in egg production, egg weight, body weight, egg 

 quality, feed efficiency, or hatchability whether the mash was moistened 

 with water or supplemented with corn distillers semi-solid grains. Excel- 

 lent, but approximately the same, results were obtained in the finishing of 

 Rhode Island Red cockerels when the 1939-1941 New England Conference 

 growing ration was supplemented with intermediate cracked corn or equal 

 parts of the corn and corn distillers semi-solid grains with solubles. The 

 birds made an average gain of 3 pounds between 12 and 20 weeks of age. 



Factors Affecting Growth, Pigmentation and Feathering in Broilers. 



(R. T. Parkhurst and Waldon T. Hastings.) Preliminary studies in bat- 

 teries indicated that good growth, pigmentation, and feathering can be 



