453. Nutritive value for rats of sow's milk in comparison with cow's milk

Abstract

1. Four experiments with 108 rats to compare the nutritive value of sow's milk and cow's milk are described. In Exps. 1–3 the milks were fed on a comparable basis of caloric value. 2. In the first experiment, in which the milk intake was equalized, rats receiving diluted sow's milk grew at a significantly faster rate and utilized their calorie intake more efficiently than rats receiving cow's milk. 3. In the second experiment, again with equalized milk intake, rats receiving sow's milk utilized their calorie intake significantly more efficiently than rats receiving diluted evaporated cow's milk. 4. In the third experiment in which the milks were given without stint, rats receiving diluted sow's milk either with or without the addition of a synthetic vitamin supplement, grew at a faster rate, and utilized their calorie intake significantly more efficiently than rats receiving cow's milk either with or without the same vitamin supplement. The vitamin supplement did not improve the nutritive value of either milk. 5. In the fourth experiment the biological value of the proteins in freeze-dried sow's milk (85·1) proved significantly lower than in freeze-dried cow's milk (90·1).