IODINE DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE IN ANIMAL NUTRITION AND PATHOLOGY*

Abstract

The author experimentally corroborates the already established fact that the birth of goiterous young in swine and sheep in I-deficient regions can be prevented by feeding small quantities of I to the pregnant mothers and that growing pigs in such regions make more rapid and better gains in weight when fed small quantities of I. In sheep it was found that high doses of I adversely affect the vigor of the new-born, that many lambs are born dead, and that many lambs die during the nursing period. The author attributes at least some of these losses to the high I content of the milk. In 1 experiment where 1/20, 1/5, and 4/5-grain of KI was allowed per ewe daily the period of gestation is reported to have apparently been lengthened, but the birth weight, body measurements, vigor, condition and wool covering were not affected. The thyroid glands of lambs from I-fed ewes were smaller and contained more I than from lambs dropped by control ewes, and the greater the amount of I fed to the ewes the smaller the thyroid gland in the lamb. Data obtained suggest, possibly, a slight favor-, able influence on wool yield in I-fed ewes.