Vitamin A Storage by Chickens

THE results of carefully controlled poultry nutrition investigations, combined with the observations of numerous practical poultry men, have shown very conclusively that chick rations should contain a generous supply of vitamins. Hence during recent years it has been a routine practice to incorporate vitamin-containing materials, particularly those rich in vitamin A and vitamin D, in chick growing mashes. However, the amount of vitamin-containing materials added to poultry mashes has varied considerably, due to insufficient information concerning the actual vitamin requirements of the domestic fowl at different stages of the life cycle. Furthermore a survey of the literature revealed little data concerning the ability of young chicks and mature hens to store vitamin A. In early poultry nutrition investigations, Hart, Halpin and Steenbock (1917) found that the results obtained with pullets fed wheat and corn were enhanced when protein, a salt mixture, and 2 percent butter were added as supplements. Guerrero . . .