The effect of benzene hexachloride in poultry feed on meat and egg quality

Abstract

Excellent results have been obtained in Queensland from the use of benzene hexachloride as a protection against weevil infestation in seed maize and sorghum. In view of the likelihood of the practice being extended to grain stored for stockfeeding purposes, experiments were planned to determine the effect of feeding BHC upon the quality of eggs and flesh of poultry. In the experiments reported here, two forms of BHC -a commercial dust (12.5 per cent. gamma isomer) and deodorised BHC (99 per cent. gamma isomer) were added to commercial growing and laying mashes at the rates of 5 p.p.m. and 25 p.p.m. gamma isomer. It is concluded that neither commercial BHC nor deodorised BHC should be used to control weevil infestation in grains for poultry feeding.