Dietary and plasma phosphorus in hens with fatty liver syndrome

Plasma inorganic phosphorus was determined in two experiments in hens that had fatty liver syndrome. In Experiment 1, plasma inorganic phosphorus was determined in twelve strains of hens all fed the same diet. Plasma inorganic phosphorus immediately following oviposition was elevated in all strains. The two strains in the first experiment with the highest as well as the two strains with the lowest plasma inorganic phosphorus were used in the second experiment. Each of the four strains were subdivided into three groups of 60 hens each and fed a practical layer diet containing either .30, .75, or 1.40% total phosphorus and 3.4% calcium. Significant differences were found in plasma inorganic phosphorus between strains fed the three dietary phosphorus levels. Results indicated that plasma inorganic phosphorus is related to dietary phosphorus in hens with an elevated plasma inorganic phosphorus level associated with fatty liver syndrome.