A Relationship Between Antibiotics, Vitamin B12 and Choline and Methionine in Chick Growth

MOORE et al. (1946) reported that the addition of streptomycin and sulfasuxidine to a purified diet brought about a growth response in chicks. The antibiotics did not cause a sterilization of the intestinal tract of chicks, but did produce a marked reduction in the coliform bacteria of the cecal contents. In 1947, Newell et al. reported that with a practical ration, combinations of dried penicillin mycelium and fish press water resulted in excellent growth of chicks. Later work by Cunha et al. (1949a), McGinnis et al. (1949) showed that an aureomycin mash A.P.F. concentrate was superior to vitamin B12 for swine and turkey poults. Stokstad et al. (1950) and Whitehill et al. (1950) reported the activity of the antibiotics in stimulating growth of chicks fed all vegetable type rations. Thayer et al. (1950) presented data which indicated that an A.P.F. concentrate has a sparing effect on the protein needs of . . .