Influence of Maternal Vitamin D Intake on Growth and Bone Ash of Offspring

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In view of reports that have appeared in the daily press claiming damage to human offspring as a result of maternal overdoses of vitamin D, it was considered of interest to observe offspring of hens fed high doses of this vitamin. Three groups of five Leghorn hens and one cock each were given a commercial laying ration providing either 660, 6600, or 66,000 International Units of vitamin D3 per kg. The hens were trapnested over a period of 3 months, and all eggs collected from the nests were incubated at 2-week intervals. The chicks obtained from the third to sixth hatch were grown to 5 weeks of age on a starter diet devoid of vitamin D3; their weights were recorded weekly. In one instance the chicks hatching from eggs laid on the floor rather than in the nests were grown on a starter diet supplemented with vitamin D3. Thirty chicks …