Alfalfa Meal in Chick Rations

A Chick Growth Factor Found in Leafy Green Vegetation

“…No direct evidence of toxicity has been noted at the levels fed. If the toxic alfalfa factor reported by various workers (Cooney et al, 1948;Peterson, 1950) is present, its effect is masked by the growth factor.…”

Chick Growth Depressing Factor in Sun-Cured and Dehydrated Alfalfa Meals

“…Chicks fed normal sun-cured alfalfa meal grew more slowly than those receiving early sun-cured or dehydrated meal both on ad libitum and restricted feeding. In a previous trial (Cooney et al, 1948) sun-cured alfalfa did not exhibit as great a depressing effect on chick growth as did the dehydrated meal. German and Couch (1950) reported that one sample of dehydrated alfalfa depressed growth whereas the other had little effect.…”

“…A satisfactory level of alfalfa intake appeared to lie between 7 and 15 percent. Cooney et al (1948) found that above the first 5 percent each additional increment of 5 percent of alfalfa meal resulted in a significant depressing effect on chick growth. When compared with chicks fed rations containing similar levels of fiber (Cellu Flour), it appeared unlikely that the results obtained with the various levels of alfalfa could be entirely attributed to the fiber in the alfalfa.…”

Lack of Toxicity of Alfalfa Saponins in Cynomolgus Macaques

“…Similar results were observed when ATS were incorporated into cholester ol-containing semipurified foods or into PMC with a very low cholesterol content. Although previous investigations did show that alfalfa meal incor porated into the food at the 10% level depresses the growth of chickens [26] and pigs [27], rabbits and monkeys grow satisfactorily on diets containing 50-60% alfalfa meal [28,29], Similar growth depression has been observed in chickens fed an alfalfa extract, and the involved material has been tenta tively identified as a saponin [30]. Growth inhibition has been induced by alfalfa saponins in birds and rodents [1-4], and this effect is partially or totally prevented by the addition of dietary cholesterol [1, 4, 7], Incorpora tion of alfalfa seeds to the diet induced a systemic-lupus-erythematosus-like syndrome in female cynomolgus macaques [18].…”