The Relation of the Rate of Growth to the Diet. A Study of A Stock Colony Ration for Albino Rats

Abstract

In an attempt to effect an improvement in the breeding ration for albino rats the standard stock ration for the colony, “Calf Meal Food,” was supplemented with 3% whole liver substance or with 5 ml of orange juice for each 50 gm of rat per day. Breeding data were secured through the F₄ generation. In general it was found that in the group fed the orange juice supplement there was a decreased rate of growth during the lactation period, due possibly to a lowered food intake. The weaning weights of 21-day-old rats were markedly below those of the other two groups. The post-weaning growth of male rats fed the liver-supplemented food was somewhat more rapid than it was in either of the other two groups. There was no difference between the groups with respect to the percentage of fertile matings or of litters weaned, but in all groups these results were less satifactory than in the main colony during the same period of time.