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A synthetic energy source, 1,3-butanediol-1,3-dioctanoate (BDDO), and corn oil were fed at the 10% level in diets for chicks recovering from Newcastle disease virus at two levels of severity. There were little differences in plasma lipid concentrations between corn oil and BDDO groups. Liver lipid analyses showed significantly higher (P less than or equal to .01) triglyceride concentration for the BDDO group as compared with corn oil. In both trials, total liver lipid content was higher in all components for the BDDO group. Triglycerides and total lipids were notably lower (P less than or equal to .01) in skin of the BDDO group as compared with corn oil. Liver and skin lipid variations were attributed to different metabolic routes for BDDO and corn oil. The data suggest that BDDO tends to allow liver synthesis of triglycerides while suppressing lipid storage in the skin.

1,3-Butanediol-1,3-dioctanoate (BDDO), a synthetic source of energy, has been shown to be equal to corn oil when fed to chicks recovering from moderate and severe Newcastle disease virus infections. Body weight increments of chicks fed diets containing 10% BDDO were equal to or greater than those of chicks fed 10% corn oil, both with restricted feeding regimens. Kilocalories of metabolizable energy required to produce 100 g of body weight increment over a basal group was used as a means of quantitating energy demand. BDDO was comparable to corn oil as an energy source with no adverse effects. Liver/body weight ratios were greater in the BDDO-fed chicks. Circadian rhythmicity of liver size and liver glycogen content was demonstrated. Chicks fed BDDO had total liver glycogen content threefold that of the corn oil controls, which was attributed to stimulation of insulin secretion. Catch-up growth in the chick following the growth depression of disease appears to be as well facilitated by a synthetic source as by a natural one.