Abstract
The diets added with the single or combined supplementation of 100mg of carnitine and 1-4 g of choline per kg were given for 2〜4 weeks to male White Leghorn chicks of seven days old, and the influences of these substances on the growth of chick were examined. The basal diet consisted of ground corn 47%, rice bran 10%, wheat bran 15%, soybean oil meal 15%, fish meal 10%, minerals, liver oil and vitamin B mixture, devoid of choline. During 2-4 weeks trials, the single supplementation of 100mg of carnitine or 1-4 g of choline, and the combined supplementation of 100mg of carnitine with 1-2 g of choline improved the growth of chicks and their body weight increased 9-20% over the control and the gain of the body weight in the trials given doses of 100mg of carnitine is almost the same as that of 4 g of choline. At the end of the trials, all chicks were killed and the compositions of liver were compared, and no difference was found among the chicks given these supplementation. The fatty liver was not found in any chick all through the trials. From these results the authors concluded that 100 mg of carnitine has the same effect for the growth of chicks as that of 4g of choline and the action of antivitamin did not occur in each other.
