Age of Chick-A Factor in the Response to Pelleted Corn

RECENTLY Allred et al. (1956) have indicated that pelleting practical-type rations, individual constituents or combinations of individual constituents of practical-type rations improves chick growth. Although previous work had suggested that the growth improvement is due to increased density of the diet, their data indicates that density accounts for only part of the response and that a large part of the response probably results from a chemical change in the pelleted feed. They also indicated that corn was the ingredient effected most by pelleting and that pelleting had the greatest influence of any of the conditions imposed. It is of interest to note that Lipke and Fraenkel (1955), using the mealworm larva, Tenebrio molitor, have demonstrated a heat labile, non-dialyzable, toxic factor in intact corn and in defatted corn germ. The factor decreases average weights as well as number of larva surviving. They also noted an inverse relationship between the toxicity . . .