Effect of Aureomycin on the Niacin and Manganese Requirements of Chicks

Abstract

BIELY and March (1951) reported that dietary levels of nicotinic acid, folic acid or riboflavin that are suboptimal for maximum growth rate of chicks under normal conditions may be adequate when aureomycin is fed. Coates et al. (1951) found that the presence of penicillin had no effect on the degree of deficiency of aneurin, riboflavin, pyridoxin or pantothenic acid, lessened that of biotin or folic acid and increased that of nicotinic acid. On the other hand, Nelson and Scott (1952) concluded from their work that antibiotics neither spare nor accentuate niacin deficiency in chicks. Pepper et al. (1951) obtained a greater growth response to aureomycin with diets deficient in manganese than with those adequate in the mineral. In addition, aureomycin lowered the incidence of perosis in chicks fed low-manganese diets. These results indicated that aureomycin, in some manner, improved the utilization of manganese by the chick. Whether or not the …