Folate deficiency in chicks fed diets containing practical ingredients.

Development of folate deficiency was evaluated in young chicks fed diets containing corn and soybean meal as major constituents. Folic acid deficiency, as indicated by retarded growth and feed efficiency, could be produced in 18-day-old chicks. Chicks fed the basal diet had increased growth when given supplements of either folic acid, choline Cl, or DL-methionine, but not vitamin B12. Relative liver size (grams per 100 g of body weight) was reduced by a methionine or methionine plus choline supplement in two experiments but by folic acid in only one of two experiments. Plasma hemoglobin was reduced by folic acid or a methionine and choline supplement after 42 days on the diets. Folic acid deficiency can be produced in young chicks with a diet based on practical ingredients. Purified diets or very high levels of antibiotic feeding are not necessary to produce folic acid deficiency as long as low levels of methionine and choline are present in the basal diet.