A Liver Concentrate as a Source of Unrecognized Vitamins Required by the Chick

Abstract

When chicks receive a ration that contains no vitamins except those now recognized as such, they grow slowly and develop perosis. A water extract of beef liver contains all unrecognized vitamins required by the chick. The unrecognized vitamins required by chicks are adsorbed from a water extract of liver by fuller's earth at a pH of 1.0. The activity is readily eluted by 0.2 N ammonia. During the adsorption procedure approximately one-third of the total activity is lost. A simplified diet has been prepared that is adequate for the growth of chicks and does not contain over 1% of crude vitamin carriers.