Vitamin B12 and Growth Inhibiting Properties of the Dried Juice of Alfalfa ,

DEHYDRATED alfalfa meal has been for many years one of the most common ingredients in practical poultry rations. The feeding of alfalfa is, however, subject to some limitation due to its growth inhibiting properties when fed at high levels. The presence of an unidentified factor, or factors, in alfalfa meal which depresses growth has been indicated by the work of Cooney et al. (1948) and Draper (1948). Lepkovsky and associates (1950) have shown conclusively the presence of a growth inhibitor in alfalfa meal which can not be destroyed by heat or chemical treatments, although ashing eliminates it. They also found that the factor is soluble in hot water. Peterson (1950) has shown that the alfalfa inhibitor possesses foaming and hemolytic properties and thus concluded the inhibitor to be related to the saponins. Increased hatchability resulting from the addition of alfalfa meal to experimental rations has been reported by Hunt, Winter . . .