Domestic Poultry Food Containing Capsaicin

Snyder Seed Corporation (SSC) has developed red pepper (capsaicin) coated wild bird seed that is palatable to birds but unpalatable to certain rodents such as squirrels and mice (U.S. patent application Number 7-892-484). SSC now wishes to expand its product development to include domestic poultry food products containing capsaicin for the purpose of decreasing rodent infestation in poultry production plants. In addition, capsaicin directly increases resistance of poultry to infection by Salmonella. SSC has formulated both chick starter and adult layer feeds with capsaicin in the form of red chili pepper and at a final heat strenght of 5000 Scoville Heat Units (303 ppm capsaicin). Chickens raised on this feed for six months showed no preference vs. control feed, and grew at the same rate as birds raised on control feed. Mice offered this feed in a two-choice feeding study demonstrated complete avoidance. Research is now needed to produce a more cost-effective feed that will reproducibly discourage mice and rats from eating it, and to determine the effect of red cayenne pepper and/or decolorized oleoresin of capsicum on laying hen and broiler chicken performance and sensory qualities of eggs and broiler meat.