Effect of Unidentified Factors in Yeast on Growth and Hock Disorder of Turkey Poults

TURKEY poults have been found to be excellent experimental animals for demonstration of unidentified factors in natural products. The apparent high requirement of turkeys for some of these factors makes them the bird of choice in many instances. Scott (1951) demonstrated that inclusion of high levels of cod liver oil in the rations of turkeys caused a high incidence of enlarged hocks. The incidence of this disorder was reduced by feeding certain supplements, particularly brewer’s yeast. Likewise Combs (1951) fed to turkey poults a basal ration of corn and soybean meal, with addition of all of the vitamins and minerals known to be required by turkeys. Further additions of certain natural products, including yeast, resulted in increased rate of growth. In view of the findings that yeast contains a factor or factors, as yet undefined, required by turkey poults for maximum growth and for reducing the incidence of enlarged hock …