Coprophagy as a Source of Vitamin B (B 1 )

Conclusions

(1) Eleven rats receiving the Sherman and Chase basal ration deficient in vitamin B(B₁,) and containing 53% of raw cornstarch, when fed 66 to 97% of their own feces as addenda were benefited as compared with littermate controls on the same ration without addenda. (2) The greatest growth resulting from feeding the rats 66 to 97% of their own feces was 4 gm. per week; most of the animals grew much less or declined steadily but more slowly than the control animals. (3) It would seem that vitamin B(B₁) studies, using the assay method outlined by Sherman and Chase, were not seriously encumbered with disturbing influences of coprophagy since the small amounts of feces ordinarily consumed by the animals are not sufficient to influence their growth rates appreciably.