AOAC Official Method 932.16 Vitamin D3 in Poultry Feed Supplements Chick Bioassay
First Action 1932
Final Action
(Applicable to fish and fish liver oils and their extracts, and to materials used for supplementing vitamin D content of feeds. Not applicable to irradiated ergosterol products or to irradiated yeast unless recommended for poultry. This assay is comparison, under conditions specified, of efficacy of product under assay with that of USP Cholecalciferol Reference Standard in controlling ash content of bones of growing chicks.)
A. Basal Rachitic Ration
The basal ration is uniform mixture in proportions designated of following ingredients, which have been finely ground, Table 932.16. To each kilogram of above mixture, add 0.22 g MnSO4×5H2O.
B. Determination
Provide cages with screen bottoms and keep chicks away from sunshine or other source of actinic light that may influence calcification. Keep cages in rooms in which wide variations in temperature are prevented (constant temperature preferred). Unless temperature of room is adequately controlled, provide each cage with suitable electric heating device. Start all birds to be used in one assay on same day and keep all conditions of environment uniform for all groups in assay.
