Utilization of Vitamin A Activity from Alfalfa or Fish Oil by Chicks Receiving Diets with and without Diphenyl-P-Phenylenediamine (DPPD)

SINCE the report by Singsen et al. (1955) that certain antioxidants including diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine (DPPD) are effective in preventing experimentally induced encephalomalacia, there has been considerable interest in these compounds and their effects when added to poultry feeds. Previously, Dam et al. (1948 (1951) reported that certain substances having antioxidant activity afforded partial protection against certain vitamin E deficiency symptoms. Dam et al. (1952) reported that certain compounds possessing antioxidant activity, including alpha tocopherol, increased the deposition of vitamin A in the livers of chicks receiving a vitamin E deficient diet containing 10% cod liver oil. It has been reported from our Laboratory by Kramke et al. (1952) that when a suboptimal level of vitamin A activity was furnished in the form of alfalfa meal, chick growth was stimulated by adding crude soybean lecithin, defatted lecithin or crude soybean oil to the ration. It was also noted at that time that …