Vitamin B12 and Amino Acids as Supplements to Soybean Oil Meal and Cottonseed Meal for Growing Chicks

Abstract

Soybean oil meal and a commercial cottonseed meal low in gossypol were investigated as the sole sources of protein for growing chicks. Soybean oil meal supported a normal rate of growth when it was supplemented with a vitamin B₁₂ concentrate equivalent to 10 to 20 μg of crystalline vitamin B₁₂ per kilogram of diet. Cottonseed meal was equal to soybean oil meal when it was supplemented with vitamin B₁₂ and 0.2% of l-lysine. Cottonseed meal with lysine but without vitamin B₁₂ gave a subnormal rate of growth, which showed that it was deficient in this vitamin. Soybean oil meal was used to supplement the lysine deficiency of cottonseed meal. The combination of the two protein concentrates supported as rapid a rate of growth when supplemented with vitamin B₁₂ as did soybean oil meal alone. Without vitamin B₁₂ growth was at a subnormal rate. These data suggest that plant proteins of relatively low value may be used as a source of protein for growing chicks when they are supplemented with soybean oil meal and vitamin B₁₂.