Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies in Birds PDF

1 Apollo College of Veterinary Medicine, Jaipur Vitamin and mineral deficiency disease VITAMIN; Vitamins are essential organic nutrients, required in small amounts. They cannot...

1 Apollo College of Veterinary Medicine, Jaipur Vitamin and mineral deficiency disease VITAMIN; Vitamins are essential organic nutrients, required in small amounts. They cannot be synthesized by the body must be obtained by outside sources like diet, rumen bacteria & sun. They are required for growth, maintenance, reproduction and lactation. Nutrients: chemical substances in food that are used by the body to produce energy and tissues. Vitamin deficiency: decline in health due to the lack of a vitamin in a ration. Fat soluble vitamin: a vitamin that can be stored and accumulated in the liver and other fatty tissues. Water soluble vitamin: a vitamin that cannot be stored in the tissues must be provided regularly as deficiencies can develop in a short time. Minerals: essential inorganic compounds required in small amount and required for growth, maintenance, reproduction and lactation. Macro-minerals: required in large amounts. Micro-minerals: required in small amounts. Classes of Vitamins Fat Soluble Vitamins: Water Soluble Vitamins: stored in tissues not stored in tissues, must have constant supply Examples: B-complex Niacin Folic Acid, Choline and vitamin c Examples Examples A B-complex D Niacin E Folic Acid K Choline vitamin c  2 Vitamin A (retinol, anti-stress vitamin, anti-infective vitamin) Precursor of vitamin A; Carotene Function: development healthy skin and nerve tissue and functions in eye sight and bone formation. All animals require a source of Vitamin A. It is important in the ration of pregnant females. Deficiency signs: retarded growth in the young, the development of a peculiar condition around the eyes known as Xerophthalmia. Sources: whole milk, carotene, animal body oils (cod fish and tuna), legume forages and can be synthetically produced. Vitamin D (chole-calciferol) Function: is essential for the proper utilization of calcium and phosphorus to produce normal, healthy bones. Deficiency signs: retarded growth, misshapen bones (rickets), lameness and osteoporosis. Sources: Whole milk, sun-cured hays, forage crops, fish liver oils, irradiated yeast. Vitamin E (anti-oxidant vitamin, ant- nutritional factors, anti-sterility factor and alpha- tocopherol) Function: normal reproduction. Deficiency signs: poor growth, "crazy chick" disease, Muscular Dystrophy, "white muscle" disease in ruminants and swine and "stiff lamb" disease (affects the nerves and muscles). Sources: synthetic for poultry and swine, cereal grains and wheat germ oil, green forages, protein concentrates, oil seeds (peanut and soybean oil). Vitamin E rapidly destroyed in rancid or spoiled fats. That is why these may cause white muscle disease. Utilization of Vitamin E is dependent on adequate selenium. Vitamin K Function: necessary for the maintenance of normal blood coagulation. Deficiency signs: blood loses its power to clot or the time needed for clotting is longer and serious hemorrhages can result from slight wounds or bruises.  3 Sources: green leafy forages, fish meal, liver, soybeans, rumen and intestinal synthesis, and the synthetic compounds. Fat Soluble Vitamins Decreased egg production, weakness and lack of growth, retarded growth in the young, the development of a peculiar condition around the eyes known as Xerophthalmia, night Vitamin A blindness (Nyactalopia) and reproductive disorders, keratocojunctivitis, stunted growth rate, corneal scar, bran like scar formation specially in cattle, hoof cracks in horse, nutritional roup in poultry, blood spot presence in egg and dry and rough skin Vitamin D Thin shelled eggs, reduced egg production, retarded growth, rickets in young one, milk fever in D animals and osteomalasia in adult animals. Enlarged hocks, encephalomalacia (crazy chick disease) in poultry, myglobinuria in horse, Vitamin E arthritis in dogs, white muscle disease/ muscular dystrophy and mulberry heart disease in pig Prolonged blood clotting, intramuscular bleeding, warfarin, blood spots and sweet clover Vitamin K poisoning and haemorrhagic syndrome in poultry, WATER SOLUBLE VITAMINS Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) Function: required for the normal metabolism of carbohydrates. Deficiency signs: loss of appetite, muscular weakness, severe nervous disorders, general weakness and wasting (Beri-beri disease). Sources: raw, whole grains and especially their seed coats and embryos ; fresh green forage; and yeast, milk and rumen synthesis. Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) Function: necessary for normal embryo development, important in the metabolism of amino acids and carbohydrates.  4 Deficiency signs: poor reproduction characterized by small litters and deformed young (cleft palate and club-footedness) curly toe paralysis in chicks, digestive disturbances, general weakness and eye abnormalities. Sources: milk and dairy by-products, yeast, green forages, well cured hay (especially alfalfa), whole grains, wheat bran and synthetic riboflavin rumen synthesis. Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) Function: required for the normal metabolism of carbohydrates. Deficiency signs: loss of appetite, muscular weakness, severe nervous disorders, general weakness and wasting (Beri-beri disease). Sources: raw, whole grains and especially their seed coats and embryos; fresh green forage; and yeast, milk and rumen synthesis. Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) Function: an effect on the metabolism of calcium in the body. Deficiency signs: none demonstrated in livestock. Human deficiency: scurvy (swollen and painful joints and bleeding gums) and brittleness of bones and Case layer fatigue in poultry, delayed healing wound, infertility in cattle. Sources: citrus fruits, tomatoes, leafy vegetables and potatoes. Choline Source; Butter, yeast, liver, meat and egg yolk Deficiency disease: chronic diarrhoea in dog, perosis/slipped tendon, fatty liver syndrome in poultry Water Soluble Vitamins Loss of appetite, star grazing In poultry, constipation, muscular weakness, Thiamine ataxia, polyneuritis in chick, beri-beri disease in human, bracken fern and horse (B1) tail poisoning and chestak paralysis in cat, fox and mink.  5 Curly-toe paralysis in poultry, poor growth and poor egg production, still Riboflavin birth, coneal opacity, glossitis, cheilitis, alopecia of calf, redness around the (B2) corner of the mouth Niacin Bowed legs, inflammation of tongue and mouth cavity, canine pellegra and (B3) enlargement of joint Pantothenic Dermatitis and lesions on mouth and feet, anti-dermatitis in poultry, goose Acid stepping gait in pig, cracks of foot pad (B5) Pyridoxine anti Hyperkeratosis, microcytic hypochromic anaemia, encephalomalacia, dermatitis vitamin jerky movements and atherosclerosis (B6) Biotin Dermatitis on feet and around eyes, aimless wandering paralysis, distorted (B7) limb and parrot beak. Folic Acid Poor growth, anaemia/ hypochromic microcytic anaemia , poor feathering, (B9) glossitis, perosis and egg production Vitamin B12 Cyanocabal- Anaemia, poor growth, embryonic mortality, pines disease in sheep amin MINERALS Mineral are essential inorganic nutrients, so required in small amounts. As many as 20 minerals may be required. They are required for growth, maintenance, reproduction and lactation.  6 Macro-minerals Micro-mineral Calcium Ca Iodine (I) Phosphorous P Copper (Cu) Potassium K Iron (Fe) Sulfur S Selenium (Se) Sodium Na Manganese (Mn) Chlorine Cl Molybedenum (Mo) Magnesium Mg Zinc (Zn) Minerals Calcium Poor egg shell quality and poor hatchability, rickets Phosphorus Rickets, poor egg shell quality and hatchability Magnesium Sudden death Manganese Perosis, poor hatchability, grass tetany in ruminant Iron Thump and Anaemia Anaemia, pines in calves, falling disease in cattle, teart or peat scour sway Copper back or neonatal ataxia and microcytic hypochromic anaemia Iodine Goitre Zinc Poor feathering, short bones, 6aresis in poultry Cobalt Slow growth, mortality, reduced hatchability Sodium Addison disease, parakeratosis and corneal keratinization  7 The poor feeding is commonly observed in backyard poultry. This can result in deficiencies of numerous vitamins and minerals, which are essential for the maintenance of poultry health. A. MINERALS: Minerals can be classified as macro-minerals (calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, and magnesium), micro-minerals (copper, zinc, iron, iodine and manganese) and trace minerals (cobalt and selenium).The functions and deficiency of each mineral is presented in brief. 1. Calcium: This is essential for formation of bones, clotting of blood, heart function and egg production. The deficiency of this mineral can result poor growth,- soft bones, poor egg shell quality, poor egg production, poor hatchability and rickets. 2. Phosphorus: It is required for utilization of carbohydrates, bone development and egg production. The inadequate level of phosphorus in ration causes rickets, poor growth, soft bones, poor hatchability and poor egg shell quality. 3. Magnesium: This macro-mineral is necessary for several vital metabolic functions. Its deficiency in birds can lead to loss of appetite, lethargies, spasms, slow growth, and sudden death. 4. Sodium and Potassium: Both minerals are constituents of blood, bile and body fluids, and needed for growth, digestion and acid base balance. 5. Iron and Cooper: These are needed for blood pigment formation. Their deficiency can cause anemia. 6. Cobalt: This trace mineral is a constituent of vitamin B 12 and its deficiency may result slow growth, reduced hatchability and mortality. 7. Zinc: This is imperative for the activation of several body enzymes. The deficiency of zinc results in improper growth, poor feathering, and shortening of leg bones. 8. Selenium: It is required for muscular functions and immunity development and the deficiency can lead to muscular dystrophy and poor immune response. 9. Manganese: This micro-mineral is essential for bone formation and also for utilization of phosphorus. The deficiency is responsible for poor hatchability, perosis, enlargement of joints, dagnala disease and staggering gait. 10. Iodine: It is a constituent of thyroid and is necessary for body activity. Its deficiency cause impaired body response and lowered activity of body.