14 



N. H. Agr. Experiment Station 



[Bulletin 310 



to the eighth week. After this time the growth rate was reduced and the 



final weight at twelve weeks showed a loss over the weight at eleven 



weeks of age. This indicates that there was apparenth' enough storage 



of vitamin A for about four weeks of normal growth. After this period 



the demand for vitamin A was in excess of the body supply. 



EXPERIMENT C, TABLE \T, Average weight in pounds per chick of the various 



groups by weekly periods 



Group 6, known as 8-12 week control group, after being removed from 

 Group 9 at eight weeks of age, showed continued gains. The rate of 

 growth, however, was somewhat less than that of Group 9. The demand 

 for vitamin A after the eight-week period seems to be in excess of the 

 amount stored up and may be the result of the reduced body gains. 



Group 7 which received no vitamin A supply during the first two weeks 

 of life, but received 1% oil in the basal ration from 3 to 12 weeks of age 

 showed better weight gains than did Group 2. Group 2 received 1% 

 cod liver oil plus basal ration for entire period. There was, however, 

 between the ages of two and seven weeks a slackening of weight gains as 

 compared to Group 2. It should be stated that the sex ratio of males to 

 females in Group 2 was 1:1.9 and that in Group 7 was 1:1. 



EXPERIMENT C, TABLE VII, Feed consumption per chick per week 



for all groups 



