A Hemorrhagic Condition in Chicks Fed Simplified Rations

Abstract

SIMPLIFIED rations have been used successfully by many workers in broiler chick nutrition studies. In the course of an investigation with such rations at this Station, a considerable mortality in the experimental birds was attributed to a hemorrhagic condition. This condition resembled the avitaminosis K syndrome described by Dam (1935) and by Almquist and Stokstad (1935 a, b). Since rations similar to those employed in this work are commonly used by other investigators and in commercial broiler production, an evaluation of this hemorrhagic condition seemed advisable. New Hampshire chicks hatched from the University flock were used in these experiments. The layers were maintained on deep litter and received a standard laying ration which contained 3 percent alfalfa meal. According to the work of Cravens et al. (1941) this level of alfalfa meal in the laying flock ration should provide an adequate intake of vitamin K. When the chicks were …