Requirement of the Baby Pig for Vitamin B12Fed as a Concentrate

Favorable growth responses were obtained when sufficiently high levels of a vitamin B12concentrate were added to the basal alpha-protein diet, which is low in vitamin B12.When 50 micrograms of vitamin B12per Kg. of dry matter of the diet were fed, optimum growth rates were obtained. The addition of more vitamin B12concentrate did not result in a further growth response.Even the highest levels of vitamin B12concentrate fed did not induce completely normal hematopoiesis in 77 days of observation, as indicated by an abnormally high total erythroid percentage in the bone marrow.Gross symptoms which might be attributed to the deficiency existing in the basal diet were hyper-irritability, posterior incoordination, voice failure, and pain in the rear quarters.