Journal of Agricultural Research 



Vol. X, No. 4 



substance is abundantly supplied by the wheat embryo, which consti- 

 tutes about 5 per cent of the weight of the grain. Fat-soluble A is prob- 

 ably not so abundant in the seeds nor in the particular grain used here — 

 wheat — ^and for that reason its relation to the problem was given special 

 attention. 



The fact that the wheat-grain and corn-stover ration was one giving 

 mixed results, the offspring sometimes being weak and sometimes strong, 

 depending upon the stamina of the mother, suggested its use as one on 

 which the animal could be sensitized. If failure in reproduction should 

 result in a number of cases when butter fat, a good carrier of fat-soluble 

 A, was added to a wheat-grain and corn-stover ration, we would be jus- 

 tified in the conclusion that other factors besides a supply of fat-soluble 

 A and poor ash were at work in causing disaster on a wheat and wheat- 

 straw ration. Consequently butter fat was added to a ration of wheat 

 grain and com stover at the rate of 2 pounds per hundred of grain. 

 The ration consisted of 6.7 pounds of wheat grain; 0.3 pound of wheat 

 gluten, and 7 pounds of com stover. 



The records of the results on this ration are shown in Table VII. 



Tabi^E VII. — Records of influence of "vitamines" on reproduction and milk secretion 



with wheat ration 



The data on this phase of the subject support the view that lack of 

 fat-soluble A was not the casual factor in the disturbances recorded. 

 No. 642 on an all-corn and organic-salt ration had produced a strong 

 calf, but on this ration the calf was weak and died (Table VII). The 

 case of No. 653 is interesting and exceedingly important. In her first 

 gestation period on this ration the calf was strong and lived, indicating 

 that the ration was so much improved by the salt additions, through 

 the better roughage used, and a more abundant supply of fat-soluble A 

 as to make possible a successful resistance to the real factor, the toxicity 

 of the wheat kernel. 



But this toxicity was apparently cumulative, and in the second ges- 

 tation period made its effect apparent on the offspring. The calf blatted 

 like a wheat and wheat-straw calf, a weak sort of noise, different from 

 the blat of a normal calf, and would lie flat on the floor, with the head 



