The Effect of Temperature and Iodinated Casein on Liver Lipids of Laying Chickens

FATTY liver syndrome in caged layers was reported in the popular press by Couch (1956), and in the scientific press shortly thereafter (Price et al., 1957; Weiss and Fisher, 1957; and McDaniel et al., 1959). A fatty liver syndrome observation in Michigan was first reported by Ringer and Sheppard (1963). During the summers of 1964 and 1965 the fatty liver syndrome as described by Ringer and Sheppard (1963) was observed in eight caged layer and two floor layer flocks. Mortality due to the fatty liver syndrome in these flocks increased whenever the ambient temperature was over 30°C. for three or more consecutive days. The commercial feed industry treatment for this fatty liver syndrome was to reduce the dietary energy (substitute 90.9 to 136.3 kg. wheat, bran or oats for corn in each 909 kg. diet) and at the same time increase the dietary protein (from 15.0 to 17.5 percent). As…