Niacin Deficiency in Poultry

What is the characteristic leg deformation observed in ducks and turkeys with a niacin deficiency?

A severe bowing of the legs and an enlargement of the hock joint.

What is the recommended allowance of niacin in the feed of ducks, geese, and turkeys?

55-70 mg/kg

What is the role of pantothenic acid in avian metabolism?

It is the prosthetic group within coenzyme A, involved in many reversible acetylation reactions in carbohydrate, fat, and amino acid metabolism.

What are the major organs affected by pantothenic acid deficiency in birds?

The nervous system, the adrenal cortex, and the skin. Signup and view all the answers

Why are turkeys, ducks, pheasants, and goslings more severely affected by niacin deficiency than chickens?

Their less efficient conversion of tryptophan to niacin. Signup and view all the answers

What is the minimum amount of niacin required in the diet of poultry to prevent deficiency?

≥30 mg/kg Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of iodine deficiency on the hatchability of eggs from a breeder hen?

Reduced hatchability Signup and view all the answers

What is the minimum amount of iodine required to be supplemented in poultry feed to avoid iodine deficiency?

0.5 mg/kg Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of a diet totally devoid of magnesium on newly hatched chicks?

Mortality Signup and view all the answers

How does a magnesium deficiency in laying hens affect egg production and quality?

Rapid decline in egg production, decreased egg size, shell weight, and magnesium content of yolk and shell Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of thyroxine or iodinated casein administration on egg production in iodine-deficient hens?

Reversal of effects, with eggshell quality returning to normal Signup and view all the answers

Why is magnesium never specifically added as a supplement to poultry diets?

Natural feed ingredients are rich in magnesium, making deficiency rare Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic change observed in egg albumen when eggs become deficient in riboflavin?

Loss of its characteristic yellow color Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical treatment for riboflavin deficiency in chicks or poults?

Two sequential daily 100-mcg doses, followed by an adequate amount of riboflavin in feed Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of tryptophan in relation to niacin deficiency in chickens?

Tryptophan is not a meaningful source of niacin for the bird due to insufficient amount and low conversion rate Signup and view all the answers

What are the primary signs of niacin deficiency in chickens?

Loss of appetite, retarded growth, general weakness, and diarrhea Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of niacin deficiency on the reproductive performance of hens?

Weight loss, reduced egg production, and a marked decrease in hatchability Signup and view all the answers

What is the distinctive condition observed in the oral cavity of niacin-deficient chicks?

Black tongue, characterized by inflammation of the tongue, oral cavity, and esophagus Signup and view all the answers