Effect of Choline and Other Supplements on Perosis
Two Figures
Thomas H. Jukes
Division of Poultry Husbandry, College of Agriculture, University of California, Davis
1. The addition of choline to a deficient basal diet, containingadded manganese, prevented perosis in turkeys. Arsenocholinewas also anti-perotic, but betaine was completely ineffective.
2. A number of vitamins and minerals were tested and all werefound ineffective. However, an adequate supply of the vitaminB complex in the diet was found to be necessary for the fullanti-perotic effect of choline to be exerted.
3. The anti-peroticeffect of various feeding stuffs was studied.Soybean meal wasfully effective at a level of 25%. Partialprotection was obtainedwith either 17% of sardine meal, 5%of dried pork liver, orwith 65% of barley. Some other feedshad a slight potency. Therelation of the lecithin content tothe anti-perotic activityof certain feeds is discussed.
4. Experiments with a simplifieddiet indicated that cholineis essential for growth as wellas for the prevention of perosis.An addition of 0.1% of cholinewas sufficient for growth, butinsufficient for the preventionof perosis. An addition of 0.2%of choline protected againstperosis. Betaine was neither growth-promotingnor anti-perotic.Inositol was ineffective.
5. The addition of a supplementto supply the "rice factor"did not promote growth in turkeys,which may indicate a differencebetween this species and thechick.
6. An experiment with chicks indicated that cholineis essentialfor the prevention of perosis in this species also.
7. Biochemical possibilities arising from these observationsare discussed briefly.