The contribution of anorexia to reduced growth in zinc-deficient chickens

1. It was shown, using a paired-feeding technique, that the growth depression in zinc-deficient chicks was largely caused by the greatly reduced consumption of the deficient diet. 2. Chicks receiving a zinc sulphate solution directly into the crop ate an amount of zinc-deficient diet similar to that of the zinc-deficient diet eaten ty the control chicks; palatability was thus ruled out as the cause of the anorexia. 3. Only chicks receiving the zinc-deficient diet displayed signs of zinc deficiency.