Studies on an Unidentified Chick Growth Factor in Dehydrated Green Feed

THERE is considerable evidence to indicate that in addition to all the known vitamins, chicks require unidentified factors in starting rations. One or more such factors are reported to be present in green feed. Kohler and Graham (1951) found that the press juice of forage contained a growth factor for chicks, and noted that commercial chicks fed a practical type ration responded to the growth factor. In the experiment described the growth factor was apparently destroyed by drying. Subsequently, however, other investigators have reported a growth factor in dehydrated alfalfa. Hansen et al. (1953) and Scott, Fisher and Synder (1953) reported that either dehydrated or sun-cured alfalfa stimulated growth in chicks fed purified diets containing all the known growth factors. Vavich, Wertz and Kemmerer (1953) found that dehydrated alfalfa contained one or more unidentified chick growth factors. They reported further that sardine meal gave a similar stimulus to growth. In …