Linoleic Acid as Causative Agent of Encephalomalacia in Chickens Fed Oxidized Fats. ∗

Summary

Feeding of heated and aerated unsaturated fats to chickens fed Vit. E low diets resulted in high incidence of encephalomalacia. Incidence of encephalomalacia was correlated with linoleic acid, but not the linolenic acid content of fats fed. Feeding of highly purified linoleic acid resulted in 100% incidence of encephalomalacia. When 20% heated cottonseed oil was the fat source between 44 and 88 I.U./kg of Vit. E or between .0125% and 0.025% of the antioxidant, ethoxyquin was required for prevention of the disease.