Sources of Vitamin A, Particularly Alfalfa Products, for Maintaining the Life of Chicks

AMONG the investigators who have demonstrated that fresh alfalfa, alfalfa meal, alfalfa leaves, and alfalfa hay may be used as sources of vitamin A in the diet of hens are Beach (1924), Davis and Beach (1925), Kennard and Lingle (1928), and Stuart (1929). Unpublished data obtained at the United States Poultry Experiment Station at Glendale, Arizona, also bear out their findings. However, there seem to be few if any published data regarding the comparative value of these products, as well as of other sources of vitamin A, when fed as a part of the diet of growing chicks. Accordingly, the experiments which are reported in this paper were planned for the purpose of obtaining such data. Inasmuch as it has been found during the last few years that vitamin A is of considerable value in preventing infection, it seemed desirable to learn whether or not this vitamin is also of . . .