The Feeding Value of Rye for the Growing Chick: Effect of Enzyme Supplements, Antibiotics, Autoclaving and Geographical Area of Production

BECAUSE of its ability to yield satisfactorily under soil and climate conditions adverse to the major production of other grains, rye can frequently be obtained in quantity at prices that are economically advantageous. However, as poor performance is too frequently encountered whenever this grain assumes major dietary proportions, the low calorie cost is of little value to the feed manufacturer. In 1936, Crampton, and Halpin et al. reported that rye is quite unsatisfactory for growing poultry. These reports are further substantiated by Ackerson et al. (1946) in similar investigations with the chick. North (1934), contrary to the former, found that rye could substitute for up to 20% of the corn of barley in a laying hen ration without any effect on egg production. One of the particularly bad features noted when using rye was the excretion of a wet and extremely sticky dropping (Halpin et al., 1936). This condition not…