Evidence for Chick Growth Inhibitors in Several Legume Seeds

THE presence of growth inhibitors in many legume seeds is well established. Recent studies at this laboratory showed that autoclaving peas improved their nutritional value for chicks and poults (Kienholz et al., 1959), showing that peas also contain a growth inhibitor. One purpose of the present study was to survey the chick growth inhibiting properties of several legume seeds not usually included in animal rations. Other means were also sought to overcome the growth depressing effect of raw peas. Several investigators have shown that chicks require a high level of zinc with certain diets. O’Dell and Savage (1957) and Supplee et al. (1958) observed that adding zinc to a diet containing isolated soybean protein improved chick growth. Adding zinc to a diet containing soybean oil meal, however, did not improve chick growth. Norris and Ziegler (1958) determined the zinc requirement of chicks fed purfied diets to be 15 or 33 …