Evaluation of dietary zinc, cadmium, tin, lead, bismuth and arsenic toxicity in hens

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977 · Poult. Sci.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5193280

Hermayer, K L; Stake, P E; Shippe, R L

Groups of four, individually caged Single Comb White Leghorn hens, 22 weeks of age, were fed a practical corn-soy laying mash supplemented with 4 increasing levels of either zinc acetate, cadmium acetate, stannous oxide, lead oxide, bismuth trioxide or arsenic pentoxide for 8 weeks. Egg production was recorded daily, individual feed intake weekly, body weight bi-weekly, and each bird was artificially inseminated twice weekly. The supplemental dietary levels fed were Zn and Sn: 1, 100, 10,000 and 10,000 ppm; and Cd, Pb, Bi and As: 1, 10 100 and 1000 ppm. Broken-line regression analysis indicated that feed intake, egg production and body weight were reduced when the supplemental concentration of the trace elements exceeded the following levels - Zn: 794, 2512, and 1585 ppm; Cd: 40, 8, and 32 ppm; and As: 50, 40, and 40 ppm, respectively. Considerable variation was noted in responses to supplemental Sn, Pb, and Bi. Dietary Pb greater than 630 ppm sharply reduced egg production, but the responses in feed intake and body weight were inconsistent. No significant differences in either feed intake, egg production or body weight change were noted in birds receiving supplemental Sn or Bi. Analysis of incubated eggs indicated that 100 ppm dietary Cd significantly increased the incidence of infertile eggs and decreased hatchability. The data demonstrate that accurate screening of trace element toxicity is dependent upon the physiological response measured and is subject to considerable variation both between and within specific elements.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Connecticut, Storrs
• OSTI ID: 5193280
• Journal Information: Poult. Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: Poult. Sci.; (United States) Vol. 56:5; ISSN POSCA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
ARSENIC
BIRDS
BISMUTH
CADMIUM
CHICKENS
DIET
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
EGGS
ELEMENTS
FOWL
LEAD
MATHEMATICS
METALS
PHYSIOLOGY
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
SEMIMETALS
STATISTICS
TIN
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES
WEIGHT
ZINC