The contribution of anorexia to reduced growth in zinc‐deficient chickens

Abstract

1. It was shown, using a paired‐feeding technique, that the growth depression in zinc‐deficient chicks was largely caused by the greatly reduced consumption of the deficient diet.

2. Chicks receiving a zinc sulphate solution directly into the crop ate an amount of zinc‐deficient diet similar to that of the zinc‐sufficient diet eaten by the control chicks; palatability was thus ruled out as the cause of the anorexia.

3. Only chicks receiving the zinc‐deficient diet displayed signs of zinc deficiency.

Notes

On transfer of work from the Animal Research Institute, Research Branch, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0C6.

Contribution number: Animal Research Institute 971.