The Linoleic Acid Requirement of Chicks

Abstract

A DIETARY requirement for essential fatty acids for chicks and hens has been conclusively demonstrated in recent years by several investigators (Bieri et al., 1956; Machlin and Gordon, 1960; Hopkins et al., 1960). Lack of a source of linoleic acid in the diet of young chicks results in suboptimal growth rate, enlarged, fatty livers and reduced resistance to respiratory infections (Marion and Edwards, 1962; Ross and Adamson, 1961; Hopkins et al., 1963). Laying hens deficient in linoleic acid lay fewer and smaller eggs with markedly reduced fertility and hatchability (Menge et al., 1965). Several workers showed that linoleic acid nearly disappears from depot fat and tissue lipids when essential fatty acid deficient diets are fed (Bieri et al., 1957; Machlin and Gordon, 1961). Concurrent with low levels of linoleic acid, a significant quantity of 5,8,11-eicosatrienoic acid appears in tissue lipids of essential fatty acid deficient chicks. This faty acid has …