Stimulation of Chick Growth with Alfalfa Concentrates

Abstract NOVAK et al. (1953) observed that a factor(s) was present in dehydrated alfalfa leaf meal which stimulated growth of the mold, Neurospora sitophila. This factor(s) was distinct from thiamine, folic acid, biotin, para-aminobenzoic acid, vitamin B12, riboflavin, niacin, and inositol. Concentration of this factor(s) was reported by Novak, Jonnard and Liuzzo (1958), employing this mold as a test organism for evaluating and comparing the degree of activity in the various fractions. These investigators obtained a final active concentrate which represented less than 0.1% of the solids. This study was proposed to test the growth stimulating effects of these alfalfa concentrates on chicks, since numerous investigations have indicated the presence of an unidentified growth factor(s) in alfalfa for the chick (Kohler and Graham, 1951; Hansen et al., 1953; Jacobs et al., 1953; Scott et al., 1953; Vavich et al., 1953; Fisher et al., 1954). EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The growth stimulating effects of …