Further Evidence on the Value of Ascorbic Acid for Maintenance of Shell Quality in Warm Environmental Temperature

REVIEW OF LITERATURE THE use of ascorbic acid in the diet of the chicken has been investigated only on a limited scale since it is universally known and accepted that the bird can synthesize this vitamin. It was shown by Thornton and Moreng (1958), however, that this compound was of value during the summer months for the maintenance of interior egg quality, shell strength and shell thickness. This decline in shell strength and thickness during the summer has been shown by Warren and Schnepel (1940), Wilhelm (1940) and Brant et al. (1953) as well as many other investigators to be associated with the increase in environmental temperature. Furthermore, Conrad (1939) showed that the calcium carrying capacity of the birds’ blood was reduced when exposed to high temperatures. Asmundson and Pinsky (1935), Gutteridge and Novikoff (1947), Hoffman and Wheeler (1948) and Berg and Bearse (1951) have also shown that stimulation of …