Division of Poultry Husbandry, University of California, Davis
1. A diet similar to that used in vitamin G assays(Norris and co-workers, '36) was found to be deficient in bothlactoflavin and the filtrate factor. Addition of crystallinelactoflavin to the diet appeared to provoke dermatitis in chicks.
2. A basal diet for chicks is described which was used inthebiological assay of lactoflavin by growth. Maximal growthunderthe conditions of assay required the addition of about0.60mg. of a crystalline preparation of lactoflavin to 100gm. ofthe diet. The exact purity of the lactoflavin used wasnot known.The growth response to lower levels was roughly proportionalto the amount of lactoflavin which was fed.
3. Symptoms ofprolonged lactoflavin deficiency in chicks aredescribed.
4.The lactoflavin content of some feeding stuffs is reportedinterms of a chick unit which was based on chick growth, andwasequivalent to one-tenth of the daily amount which will justprovide for maximal growth under the conditions described. Theunit was approximately equivalent to a modified Bourquin andSherman unit of vitamin G. Under the conditionsof the assay, the requirement of the chick for maximal growthwas about 100 units per 100 gm. of diet.
5. Attention is drawnto the differences in distribution oflactoflavin and the filtratefactor is certain feeding stuffs.