The Effects of Rations Containing Gradient Amounts of Cod Liver Oil on the Subsequent Performance of Laying Pullets Following a Natural Infection of Coccidiosis

LIMITED experimental evidence and field observations indicate a possible relationship existing between nutrition and infectious diseases. Among animals and fowls, malnutrition apparently lowers the resistance to infection of disease-producing organisms and handicaps the individual in overcoming some of the detrimental effects produced. Zimmerman, Vincent, and Ackert (1926); Ackert, McIlvaine, and Crawford (1931); Ackert and Nolf (1931); Ackert and Beach (1933) have shown that resistance of the chicken to the nematode, Ascaridia lineata (Schneider), was increased when fed rations adequate in vitamins A or B or other dietary supplements. Evidence as secured by Ackert and Spindler (1929) indicated that the resistance of chickens to the parasite, Ascaridia lineata, was not lowered by a deficiency of vitamin D. However, when the rate of gain in body weight was used as the criterion they found vitamin D to be a factor in protecting chickens from some of the detrimental effects of the parasite.