Studies on Chick Growth Stimulation by Alfalfa Juice, Casein, and Aureomycin

KOHLER and Graham (1951) presented evidence that the juice pressed from alfalfa stimulated the growth of chicks. These investigators postulated the presence of an unidentified growth factor in the alfalfa juice. Later Kohler and Graham (1952) described a variation in the chick response to alfalfa juice which was inversely correlated with the seasons during which the breeder hens had access to good range. Scott (1951a) presented evidence that poult growth was stimulated by including 5% alfalfa juice in the ration. Later Scott (1951b) presented the results of studies showing that grass juice increased the growth of poults to approximately the same extent as aureomycin, while the response to the combination of grass juice and aureomycin was not superior to the response due to aureomycin alone. Slinger et al. (1952), using penicillin instead of aureomycin, confirmed the findings of Scott (1951b) that grass juice increased the growth of poults approximately to …