Studies on Encephalomalacia in the Chick

Abstract

THE present status of the encephalomalacia problem in chicks has been reviewed by Jungherr, Singsen and Matterson (1952). Of particular interest is the observation by Jungherr (1949) of the occurrence of encephalomalacia in day-old hatchery-cull chicks and his suggestion of an egg transmitted deficiency. Numerous studies have been conducted in which vitamin E low diets were fed to normal chicks, but very little work has been done with adult birds. Dju et al. (1950) reported on the utilization of pure α-, γ-, and δ-tocopherols by laying hens fed a purified vitamin E free diet, but did not attempt to produce any chicks from these hens. Adamstone, Krider and James (1949) observed severe muscular incoordination and high mortality in the offspring of sows fed a vitamin E low diet indicating that maternal nutrition is a worthwhile avenue of approach to the vitamin E deficiency problem. The most outstanding single difficulty in …