16 X. H. Agr. Experiment Station [Bulletin 310 



In order that the vitamin D requirement be fully supplied, these five 

 groups received daily ultra-violet irradiation from a mercury vapor lamp 

 for a period of fifteen minutes at a distance of thirty inches. 



Grouj) 1 was fed the basal ration which is deficient in vitamin A. 

 Group 2 received the basal ration plus the addition of V>% cod liver oil, 

 standardized to contain at least 2.000 units of vitamin A per gram. 

 Group 3 was fed the basal ration plus one per cent cod liver oil. Group 

 4 received the basal ration plus Vi)% sardine oil. Group 5 was fed 1% 

 sardine oil in addition to the basal ration. Group 6, used as a check 

 group, was fed the regular New England College Conference ration ade- 

 quately balanced in all known respects. 



At the start of tlie cxju'rimcnt all chicks were wingbandcd and indi- 

 vidually weighed. These weighings were continued weeklj^ for later 

 weight and growth comparison. Group feed consumption records were 

 computed weekly and autopsy records secured for all chicks which died 

 during the course of the test. 



Discussion 



A study of Table IX A and B, presenting the average feed consumption 

 per chick for the 12-week period, shows that the groups which received cod 

 liver oil in addition to the basal ration consumed more feed than did those 

 receiving sardine oil. Group 2 consumed 10.945 pounds per chick for the 

 twelve-week experimental period; Group 3 consumed 10.926 pounds, 

 Group 4 consumed 9.529 pounds and group 5 consumed 9,448 pounds. 



In a computation to determine the relative efficiency of feed consump- 

 tion based on weight gains we find a somewhat different relationship. 

 Group 6 which received the X'^ew England College Conference ration was 

 most efficient in this respect. The consumption of feed for this group was 



EXPERIMENT D, TABLE IX-A. Average weight, feed consumption, efficiency of 

 feed consuuiption and mortality for all groups. 



