Effects of lauryl sulphate on egg‐shell quality in laying hens

1. The effect of feeding the detergent, sodium lauryl sulphate at concentrations up to 10 g/kg diet on egg‐shell quality was examined in laying hens at 24, 36 and 48 weeks of age.

2. Lauryl sulphate at 2.5 g/kg or more in the diet significantly increased shell breaking strength, shell thickness and shell weight at 24 and 36 weeks. In 48‐week‐old hens only shell breaking strength was increased significantly. Egg production and egg weight were not affected significantly by lauryl sulphate.

3. Lauryl sulphate might increase these measures of quality by increasing shell deposition and/or shell elasticity.     

Cases of Pseudorabies in Free-Living Red Foxes (Vulpes Vulpes) and in Captive Blue Foxes (Alopex Lagopus) in Denmark

In the period December 1967 through April 1969 eight spontaneous cases of pseudorabies in Danish red foxes were demonstrated by virus isolation. One fox had been kept in captivity, the remaining seven were free-living. Five of the foxes were found dead, while three, presenting abnormal behaviour when encountered, had been killed.