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Growth and Reproduction of Rats Fed Army Combat Rations¹

Department of Biochemistry, College of Agriculture, University of Wisconsin, Madison

The army combat rations K, C and 10-in-1 were fed ad libitum to young growing rats. The materials fed represent only a limited sampling since the items included in the rations have been changed from time to time. Therefore, the samples taken from other manufacturing sources and at different times might give results varying in some degree from those reported in this instance. Furthermore, growth and reproduction over extended periods of time were the 2 criteria used in these experiments for evaluating the rations. Actually these rations were consumed for the most part by mature men in the field during relatively short intervals of time.

When the K, C and 10-in-1 rations were fed to female rats, it was found that the survival rate of the young born to the females was quite low. The addition of liver to the K ration improved the percentage of survival of young born to females on this diet.

The growth of male rats on these diets was suboptimum. The addition of the B vitamins and casein to the rations substantially improved growth in all cases. Normal growth was obtained when K and C rations were supplemented with casein and vitamins. Results indicate that part of the response to casein with the K ration is due to the methionine content.

The subject matter of this paper has been undertaken in cooperation with the Committee on Food Research of the Quartermaster Food and Container Institute for the Armed Forces. The opinions or conclusions contained in this report are those of the authors. They are not to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views or indorsement of the War Department.

Manuscript received 23 December 1947.