Vitamin B12 Studies with the Hen

Abstract

THE importance of vitamin B12 for hatchability was first reported by Lillie, Denton, Olsen and Bird (1949). These investigators injected crystalline vitamin B12 into eggs obtained from vitamin B12 deficient hens and noted an increase in hatchability. Their observations have been confirmed by Olcese and Couch (1950) and Carver and McGinnis (1950). Peterson et al. (1950) and Peeler et al. (1950) obtained marked increases in hatchability by means of intramuscular injection of vitamin B12 in hens depleted of this factor. Lindstrom et al. (1949) found that 1 percent of a vitamin B12 concentrate, containing 4.4 μg. of vitamin B12 per gram, did not furnish enough of the factor for optimum hatchability. On the other hand Milligan and Combs (1950) recently reported that 4 μg. of vitamin B12 or less per kilo of ration supported good hatchability. The objectives of this investigation were to study further the B12 requirement for normal . . .