Nutritional Value of Plant Materials VII. Dietary Factors Affecting Pre-Weaning and Post-weaning Mortality of Rats

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Further observations have been made on factors of maternal nutrition affecting the incidence of deaths associated with symptoms of acute uremia in the newborn rat. This syndrome was observed in 40 to 58% of the litters born to mothers maintained on rations containing soybean oil meal, alfalfa leaf meal, and yellow corn. The addition of 40 µg of vitamin B12 per kilogram to the maternal ration prevented this syndrome. On rations containing 48 to 72% soybean oil meal or soybean oil meal plus alfalfa leaf meal, the incidence of the acute uremia of the newborn was very low. Young born to mothers maintained on a 72% soybean oil ration developed a 35 to 45% post-weaning mortality. The post-weaning mortality of the young could be prevented by the addition of 40 µg of vitamin B12 per kilogram of ration.