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Studies in Duck Nutrition
137
BOWED LEGS IN DUCKS Knox, C. W., 1950. The effect of Newcastle disease on egg production, egg weight and mortality rate. Poultry Sci. 29:907-911. Lerner, I. M., L. W. Taylor and J. R. Beach, 1950. Evidence for genetic variation in resistance to a respiratory infection in chickens. Poultry Sci. 29: 862-869. Lorenz, F. W., and W. E. Newlon, 1944. Influence of avian pneumoencephalitis on subsequent egg quality. Poultry Sci. 23:193-198. Olsen, M. W., and S. K. Haynes, 1949. Egg char-
acteristics which influence hatchability. Poultry Sci. 28: 198-201. Parnell, E. D., 1950. The keeping quality of shell eggs in storage as affected by Newcastle disease. Poultry Sci. 29:153-155. Quinn, J. P., 1950. Effect of Newcastle disease on egg quality. Poultry Sci. 29: 776. Van Roekel, H., M. K. Clarke, K. L. Bullis, O. M. Olesiuk and F. G. Sperling, 1951. Infectious bronchitis. Amer. J. Vet. Res. 12:140-146.
5. BOWED LEGS IN DUCKS, A NUTRITIONAL DISORDER G. F. HEUSER AND M. L. SCOTT Agricultural Experiment Station and Department of Poultry Husbandry, Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. (Received for publication July 19, 1952)
1
EG weakness, characterized by a severe J bowing of the legs ultimately resulting in complete crippling, has been observed at this laboratory in Pekin ducklings fed practical rations. (Heuser and associates, 1951; Scott and Heuser, 1952). Photographs showing this disorder in several degrees of severity are presented in Figure 1. Leg weakness similar in appearance to that observed here is encountered frequently in commercial flocks of ducklings in the Long Island area, representing an important economic problem since ducklings afflicted with the disorder usually do not make normal weight gains and therefore represent a loss at market time. Fritz and associates (1941) and Motzok and Branion (1948) have also reported the occurrence of bowed legs in ducklings raised under experimental conditions.
In a preliminary experiment at this laboratory, it was found that the condition could not be prevented or corrected by the addition of high levels of cod liver oil, choline or manganese. The results of
this experiment indicated, therefore, that the symptoms did not represent rickets or perosis. Since the condition appeared to involve a weakness at the hock joint, it was considered possible that it was similar to the enlarged hock disorder in turkeys which has been studied at some length in this laboratory by Scott (1950,1951a, b, 1952). It is the purpose of this report to show that the bowed-leg-disorder in ducklings is prevented by the addition of dried brewers' yeast to the diet, just as yeast prevents the enlarged hock disorder in turkeys, but that in the case of ducklings yeast is effective because of its high content of available niacin. Evidence will also be presented indicating that the niacin in wheat standard middlings, as measured by currently accepted microbiological assays, is not as available to ducklings as the niacin present in dried brewers' yeast. EXPERIMENTAL
Pekin ducklings were used in all experi-
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Studies in Duck Nutrition
138
G. F. HEUSER AND M. L. SCOTT k
B
ments, 20-25 ducklings per lot. The ducklings were housed in thermostatically heated pens with | inch wire-mesh floors. The basal ration used in all studies was composed of the following ingredients in pounds per 100 pounds of total ration: corn meal 40; wheat flour middlings 15; wheat standard middlings 15; pulverized oats 10; fish meal 8: soybean oil meal 10:
dicalcium phosphate 1; limestone 0.5: salt (iodized) 0.25; D-activated animal sterol 0.1; stabilized dry vitamin A 0.1. Riboflavin supplement and manganese sulfate were each added at a level of 12 grams per 100 pounds of ration. All diets were fed as 9/64 inch pellets. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum. Experiment D-5.—Since Scott (1915b)
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FIG. 1. Varying degrees of severity of bowed legs in ducks. A = 0, normal. B = 2 , bowed. C = 4 , very bowed. D = 6, crippled.
BOWED LEGS IN DUCKS
139
Experiment D-6.-^-This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of different levels of dried brewers' yeast and five different samples of dried distillers' solubles atithe 10 percent level upon the bowed-leg disorder. In order to determine whether the response obtained from yeast was due to one or more of the known vitamins contained in yeast, one lot of ducklings received a mixture of the known synthetic vitamins. Other lots received
presented evidence of the detrimental effect of fish liver oil and the beneficial effect of dried brewers' yeast and other materials on the enlarged hock disorder in turkeys, this experiment was conducted to determine whether or not yeast would also prevent the bowed leg deformity in ducks. The results of this experiment, presented in Table 1, showed that all of the ducklings receiving the basal ration were
Without antibiotic Supplement to basal ration
Bowed Average weight Bowed Average weight legs legs 3 wks 3 wks 6 wks 8 wks 3 wks 3 wks 6 wks 8 wks
% None 2 % Fish liver oil 2 % Fish liver o i l + 5 % dried yeast 2 % Fish liver o i l + 5 % dried 2 % Fish liver o i l + 5 % dried solubles 2 % Fish liver o i l + 5 % dried 2 % Fish Jiveroil+4% grass Vitamin Bi2 (11.25 mg./T.) Aureomycin (11 gm./T.)
With antibiotic'
%
100 100
gm. 1,054 994
gm. 2,545 2,540
gm. 3,245 3,076
100 100
gm. 1,102 892
gm. 2,637 2,488
gm. 3,228 3,243
6 100
1,039 955
2,593 2,532
3,019 3,038
0 100
1,136 1,020
2,625 2,598
3,182 3,055
63 95 90 95
767 847 1,094 1,039
2,384 2,311 2,590 2,523
3,058 2,779 2,929 2,938
100 95 94
1,089 1,036 1,075
2,438 2,600 2,526
2,880 3,110 2,942
—
—
—
—
brewers' skim milk distillers' whey juice
—
—
100:. •
—
968 2,447
—
2,934
* Lederle Aurofac #66 (2.2 gm. aureomycin per lb.)—5 lb./T.
bow-legged at 3 weeks of age. The incidence of bowed legs was not influenced by the feeding of fish liver oil, dried skim milk, dried whey, grass juice, or vitamin B12. The addition of an antibiotic also failed to improve the condition. The addition of 5 percent of dried brewers' yeast protected most of the ducklings against the disorder. The feeding of 5 percent of' dried distillers' solubles gave partial protection. • The addition of 2 percent of fish liver oil to the basal diet depressed growth. In the presence of the 2 percent level of fish liver oil, growth was not improved by the addition of any of the supplements to the basal ration. The inclusion of an antibiotic in the diet had only a slight, if any influence upon growth.
2 percent of fish liver oil, an acid-alcohol extract of yeast and calcium pantothenate as single supplements. All supplements were fed alone and in the presence of an antibiotic (aureomycin). The results of the experiment are shown in Table 2. Again, 100 percent of the ducklings receiving the basal ration showed bowed legs by the end of the third week. Feeding 2.5 percent of dried brewers' yeast reduced the incidence to 28 percent, whereas the 5 and 7.5 percent levels of dried brewers' yeast completely prevented bowed legs. The acid-alcohol extract of yeast fed at a level equivalent to 5 percent of yeast reduced the incidence of bowed legs to 24 percent. The different samples of dried distillers' solubles produced variable responses. In the lot of ducklings receiving
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TABLE 1.—Results of Experiment V-5.—Weight and incidence of bowed legs in ducklings
140
G. F. HEUSER AND M. L. SCOTT
the vitamin mixture only 8 percent showed bowed legs thus indicating that the condition was probably due to a deficiency of a known vitamin. The necessary vitamin does not appear to be pantothenic acid since the lots receiving this vitamin alone showed no improvement in incidence or severity of the disorder. In this experiment, growth was im-
the bow-legged condition was almost completely prevented by a mixture of known vitamins, a further experiment was conducted in an effort to determine which of the known vitamins is required. One lot of ducklings again received the complete vitamin mixture while other lots received this mixture except for the omission of one or more of the vitamins. The plan of this
TABLE 2.—Results of Experiment D-6.—Weight and incidence of bowed legs in ducklings
Supplement to basal ration
Bowed legs (3 wks) Inci- Severdence ity*
% None 2.5% Dried brewers' yeast 5% Dried brewers' yeast 7.5% Dried brewers' yeast Calcium pantothenate (20 gm./T.) Vitamin mixture** 10% Dried distillers' solubles #1 10% Dried distillers'solubles #2 10% Dried distillers' solubles #3 10% Dried distillers' solubles #4 10% Dried distillers' solubles #5 2% Fish liver oil Yeast extract ( = 5 % yeast)
100 28 0 0 100 8 100 100 64 100 92 100 24
3.5 2.1 0 0 3.6 1.5 4.1 3.3 2.4 3.1 2.1 4.3 1.8
With antibiotic (aureomycin 10 gm./T.)
Avg. wt. 3 wks
4 wks
gm. 994 1,071 1,249 1,221 1,022 1,153 953 1,040 1,053 1,108 1,090 908 1,171
gm. 1,376 1,444 1,625 1,625 1,389 1,535 1,326 1,407 1,335 1,525 1,562 1,285 1,616
Bowed legs (3 wks) Inci- Severdence ity
% 100 29 0 0 100 4 100 92 76 95 74 100 46
4.0 ' 2.1 0 0 4.1 1.5 4.3 3.4 3.3 2.7 2.0 4.0 2.4
Avg., wt. 3 wks
4 wks
gm. 953 1,190 1,230 1,199 1,026 1,190 1,017 1,062 1,062 1,094 985 990 1,212
gm. 1,380 1,607 1,657 1,634 1,444 1,607 1,335 1,525 1,444 1,625 1,394 1,380 1,598
* 0 = normal. 1 = slight bowing. 6=extreme crippling with duckling unable to stand, ** The following vitamins, expressed as milligrams per pound of diet, were added: niacin, 10; riboflavin, 2; thiamine hydrochloride, 1; pyridoxine hydrochloride, 2; calcium pantothenate, 10; choline chloride, 500; alpha-tocopherol acetate, 5; vitamin K (menadione), 2; folic acid, 0.5; biotin, 0.05; and vitamin Bi2, 0.01.
proved by the addition of yeast, yeast extract, and the vitamin mixture. The growth responses to the different samples of dried distillers' solubles were variable. The antibiotic apparently had no appreciable effect upon either growth or the occurrence of leg weakness as evidenced by the fact that good agreement was obtained in both growth and leg weakness scores in the duplicate lots with and without the antibiotic. Experiment D-7.—In view of the discovery in the previous experiment that
experiment and the results are presented in Table 3. As in the previous experiments, the ducklings receiving the basal diet alone showed an incidence of 100 percent of bowed legs at 3 weeks of age. This was also true for a lot receiving 5 percent of alfalfa meal and another receiving the Citrovorum factor.1 The addition of 7.5 percent of dried brewers' yeast or the complete 1 We are indebted to Lederle Laboratories, Pearl River, New York, for the Citrovorum factor.
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Without antibiotic
141
BOWED LEGS IN DUCKS
TABLE 3.—Results of Experiment D-7.—Weight and incidence of bowed legs in ducks at 3 weeks of age
Supplement to basal ration
None 7.5% Dried brewers' yeast 5% Alfalfa meal Citrovorum factor (0.5 mg./lb.) Vitamin mixture* Vitamin mixture*-{-antibiotic** Vitamin mixture* (except vitamin E) Vitamin mixture* (except Bi, Bi, Bu pantothenic acid and choline) Vitamin mixture* (except Be) Vitamin mixture* (except biotin) Vitamin mixture* (except folic acid) Vitamin mixture* (except niacin)
Incidence bowed Avg. wt. legs
%
gm.
100 0 100 100 0 0 0
1,098 1,290 1,153 1.178 1,283 1,313 1,310
0 0 0 0 100
1,300 1,328 1,265 1,311 1,142
* Same as indicated in Table 2. ** 5 mg. aureomycin, 5 mg. bacitracin and 2.5 mg. penicillin per lb.
the addition of niacin alone would prevent the leg disorder and to determine whether or not the niacin present in wheat standard middlings is as effective as free niacin and the niacin present in dried brewers' yeast. Accordingly, niacin was fed at levels of 5 and 10 milligrams per pound of diet; dried brewers' yeast at 3.8 and 7.5 percent (which according to microbiological assay supplied levels of 5 and 10 mg. of niacin per pound of diet, respectively); and wheat standard middlings was increased, for one lot, to 28 percent of the diet which, according to the assays, increased the level of niacin by 5 mg. per pound of diet. The results are presented in Table 4.
TABLE 4.—Results of Experiment D-8.—Effect of niacin upon growth and incidence of bowed legs and the relative availability of niacin m yeast and wheat standard middlings
Supplement to basal ration
Incidence bowed legs
Avg. wt.
% 100 45 0 5 25 0 100 0 100
gm. 1,080 1,315 1,263 1,334 1,333 1,336 1,243 1,313 1,125
100
1,018
None Niacin, 5 mg./lb. Niacin, 10 mg./lb. Niacin, 10 mg./lb. -f-antibiotics and sulfa* Dried brewers'yeast, 3.8% Dried brewers'yeast, 7.5% Wheat standard middlings, 28% Vitamin mixture** Vitamin mixture** (except niacin) Vitamin mixture** (except niacin) -(-antibiotics***
* 5 mg. aureomycin HC1 and 4 mg. procaine penicillin per lb. and 1% succinylsulfathiazole. ** As described in footnote to Table 2. *** 5 mg. aureomycin HCI, 5 mg. bacitracin and 2.5 mg. procaine penicillin per lb.
The ducklings receiving the basal diet or this diet supplemented with all vitamins except niacin suffered a 100 percent incidence of bowed legs at 3 weeks of age. The addition of 5 milligrams of niacin per pound of basal ration reduced the incidence to 45 percent whereas the addition of 10 milligrams of niacin per pound of basal ration entirely eliminated the bowed legs. When 3.8 percent of yeast contributing approximately 5 milligrams of niacin was fed, 25 percent of the ducklings had bowed legs. Seven and one-half percent of dried brewers' yeast, contributing approximately 10 milligrams of niacin per pound of diet completely prevented the leg deformity. On the other hand, the lot receiving 28 percent of standard midlings contributing a niacin level equivalent to 5 milligrams per pound of diet showed 100 percent bowed legs. In addition to preventing leg weakness, niacin appears to be the factor responsible for the growth-promoting effect of dried brewers' yeast observed in this and the previous experiments. The 5 milligram level of niacin per pound of diet appears to be sufficient for optimum growth whereas 10 milligrams of niacin is required to prevent leg weakness completely.
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vitamin mixture prevented the disorder. Leg weakness was also prevented when individual vitamins or groups of vitamins were omitted from the vitamin mixture, with the exception of the lot from which niacin was omitted. When niacin was omitted all of the ducklings showed bowed legs. Growth was improved in all lots receiving yeast or a vitamin mixture containing niacin. Experiment D-8.—This experiment was conducted to determine whether or not
142
G. F. HEUSER AND M. L. SCOTT DISCUSSION
On the other hand, 5 to 7.5 percent of dried brewers' yeast completely prevented bowed legs and produced a normal rate of growth. However, in further studies it was discovered that this effect of yeast was entirely due to its high niacin content and that synthetic niacin was as effective as yeast, when fed at equivalent niacin levels, in preventing the bowed leg deformity and in promoting growth. According to microbiological analysis using the method worked out by the collaborative efforts of the U. S. Pharmacopeia and the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists as reported by Snell in the book by Gyorgy (1950) the niacin content of the basal diet used in these studies was 13.6 milligrams per pound of diet. The fact that it was found necessary to increase the niacin level by 10 milligrams per pound of diet in order to prevent leg weakness indicates either that the duckling has a relatively high niacin requirement, as compared, for example, with the niacin requirement of the chick, or
that much of the niacin in the basal diet is unavailable to the, duckling. In experiment D-8 it was found that the niacin present in dried brewer's yeast was apparently much more available to the duckling than that present in wheat standard middlings. The extent to which the niacin present in other natural feedstuffs is unavailable for the duckling remains to be determined. SUMMARY
1. The bowed leg disorder in ducklings raised on wire-mesh floors appears to be due to a niacin deficiency and was entirely prevented by supplementing the diet with 5 to 7.5 percent of dried brewers' yeast or by adding 10 milligrams of synthetic niacin per pound of ration. 2. Satisfactory growth was obtained with the addition of 3.8 percent of dried brewers' yeast or 5 milligrams of synthetic niacin per pound of ration. 3. The niacin present in wheat standard middlings appeared to be relatively unavailable to the duckling as compared with synthetic niacin or to that present in dried brewers' yeast. REFERENCES Fritz, J. C , W. Archer and D. Barker, 1941. Vitamin D requirements of ducklings. Poultry Sci. 20:151-154. Gyorgy, P., 1950. Vitamin Methods. Academic Press, Inc., New York. Heuser, G. F., M. L. Scott, R. K. Eskew and P. W. Edwards, 1951. Studies in duck nutrition. 3. The feeding of potatoes to ducks. Poultry Sci. 30:672-678. Motzok, I., and H. D. Branion, 1948. The vitamin D requirements of growing ducks. Poultry Sci. 27:482-485. Scott, M. L., 1950. Studies on the enlarged hock disorder (perosis) in turkeys. J. Nutrition 40: 611-624. Scott, M. L., 1951a. Studies on the enlarged hock disorder in turkeys. 2. Factors affecting the excretion and retention of creatine by young poults. Poultry Sci. 30: 839-845. Scott, M. L., 1951b. Studies on the enlarged hock
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Pekin ducklings reared in pens with f inch wire-mesh floors and fed practical rations developed a severe leg weakness characterized by a bowing of the legs, ultimately resulting in complete crippling of many of the ducklings. The addition of cod liver oil to these rations, which has been shown to aggravate the incidence and severity of the enlarged hock disorder in turkeys, was unnecessary in order to produce a high incidence of bowed legs in ducklings. Supplementing the basal diet with alfalfa meal, dried skim milk, or dried whey at a level of 5 percent had no effect upon the incidence of the disorder. Four percent of grass juice also failed to alter the symptoms. The addition of an antibiotic to the diet had no effect upon the bowed leg disorder and also had no appreciable effect upon growth.
DIM RED LIGHT AND EGG PRODUCTION disorder in turkeys. 3. Evidence of the detrimental effect of fish liver oil and the beneficial effect of dried brewers' yeast and other materials. Poultry Sci. 30: 846-855. Scott, M. L., 1952. Effect of dried distillers' solubles,
143
whey and lactose upon enlarged hocks in turkeys, Poultry Sci. 31: 175-176. Scott, M. L., and G. F. Heuser, 1952. Studies in duck nutrition. 4. Bowed legs in ducks caused by niacin deficiency. Poultry Sci. 31: 752-754.
Maintaining Winter Egg Production by the Use of Dim Red Light Department of Poultry Husbandry, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey (Received for publication July 19, 1952)
T
HE fact that lengthening the hours of light during the winter increases the egg production of fowls at that season has been known for many years. The literature has been fully covered by Dobie, Carver and Roberts (1946). The theory that the increase of gonadal activity may be caused by the effect of light on the endocrine system has been reviewed by Rowan (1938). Rider (1938) has shown that fowls need not have feed available during the hours when artificial light is provided; this was confirmed by Callenbach, Nichols and Murphy (1943). Fairbanks (1924) demonstrated that the intensity of light at the surface of the fowl need not exceed one foot-candle. That red rays of light were stimulating to egg production and blue rays depressing was shown by Rider (1938). In view of the evidence, there was every reason to believe that if fowls were exposed to a dim red light while on the perches at night, winter egg production would be maintained at a satisfactory level, even though the birds did not leave the perches to get feed and water, and that the red
Paper of the Journal Series, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, Rutgers University— the State University of New Jersey, Department of Poultry Husbandry.
light might result in even higher egg production than that normally obtained from the common practice of providing light from mazda bulbs. Furthermore, when this project was initiated during World War II, government regulations prohibited any light showing toward the sea in a prescribed area along the Atlantic Coast, and it was learned that these regulations could be met without difficulty by using red bulbs hung directly in frontof the perches, with a shield between the roosts and the front windows. In the first trial, two groups were used, each comprised of 40 White Leghorn pullets hatched in March. One group was provided with light from 15-watt red bulbs turned on from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. starting September 28. This system exposed the birds to the light all the time they were on the roosts. The second group received no supplemental light. Both groups were fed a standard layer mash ad libitum and grain in hoppers for one hour in the late afternoon. Weekly percentage rates of egg production are shown in Table 1; they indicate clearly that the lighted group produced at a distinctly higher rate. Following the initial trial, various methods of providing the red light^were
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C. S. PLATT
BOWED LEGS IN DUCKS Knox, C. W., 1950. The effect of Newcastle disease on egg production, egg weight and mortality rate. Poultry Sci. 29:907-911. Lerner, I. M., L. W. Taylor and J. R. Beach, 1950. Evidence for genetic variation in resistance to a respiratory infection in chickens. Poultry Sci. 29: 862-869. Lorenz, F. W., and W. E. Newlon, 1944. Influence of avian pneumoencephalitis on subsequent egg quality. Poultry Sci. 23:193-198. Olsen, M. W., and S. K. Haynes, 1949. Egg char-
acteristics which influence hatchability. Poultry Sci. 28: 198-201. Parnell, E. D., 1950. The keeping quality of shell eggs in storage as affected by Newcastle disease. Poultry Sci. 29:153-155. Quinn, J. P., 1950. Effect of Newcastle disease on egg quality. Poultry Sci. 29: 776. Van Roekel, H., M. K. Clarke, K. L. Bullis, O. M. Olesiuk and F. G. Sperling, 1951. Infectious bronchitis. Amer. J. Vet. Res. 12:140-146.
5. BOWED LEGS IN DUCKS, A NUTRITIONAL DISORDER G. F. HEUSER AND M. L. SCOTT Agricultural Experiment Station and Department of Poultry Husbandry, Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. (Received for publication July 19, 1952)
1
EG weakness, characterized by a severe J bowing of the legs ultimately resulting in complete crippling, has been observed at this laboratory in Pekin ducklings fed practical rations. (Heuser and associates, 1951; Scott and Heuser, 1952). Photographs showing this disorder in several degrees of severity are presented in Figure 1. Leg weakness similar in appearance to that observed here is encountered frequently in commercial flocks of ducklings in the Long Island area, representing an important economic problem since ducklings afflicted with the disorder usually do not make normal weight gains and therefore represent a loss at market time. Fritz and associates (1941) and Motzok and Branion (1948) have also reported the occurrence of bowed legs in ducklings raised under experimental conditions.
In a preliminary experiment at this laboratory, it was found that the condition could not be prevented or corrected by the addition of high levels of cod liver oil, choline or manganese. The results of
this experiment indicated, therefore, that the symptoms did not represent rickets or perosis. Since the condition appeared to involve a weakness at the hock joint, it was considered possible that it was similar to the enlarged hock disorder in turkeys which has been studied at some length in this laboratory by Scott (1950,1951a, b, 1952). It is the purpose of this report to show that the bowed-leg-disorder in ducklings is prevented by the addition of dried brewers' yeast to the diet, just as yeast prevents the enlarged hock disorder in turkeys, but that in the case of ducklings yeast is effective because of its high content of available niacin. Evidence will also be presented indicating that the niacin in wheat standard middlings, as measured by currently accepted microbiological assays, is not as available to ducklings as the niacin present in dried brewers' yeast. EXPERIMENTAL
Pekin ducklings were used in all experi-
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Manchester on April 20, 2015
Studies in Duck Nutrition
138
G. F. HEUSER AND M. L. SCOTT k
B
ments, 20-25 ducklings per lot. The ducklings were housed in thermostatically heated pens with | inch wire-mesh floors. The basal ration used in all studies was composed of the following ingredients in pounds per 100 pounds of total ration: corn meal 40; wheat flour middlings 15; wheat standard middlings 15; pulverized oats 10; fish meal 8: soybean oil meal 10:
dicalcium phosphate 1; limestone 0.5: salt (iodized) 0.25; D-activated animal sterol 0.1; stabilized dry vitamin A 0.1. Riboflavin supplement and manganese sulfate were each added at a level of 12 grams per 100 pounds of ration. All diets were fed as 9/64 inch pellets. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum. Experiment D-5.—Since Scott (1915b)
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Manchester on April 20, 2015
FIG. 1. Varying degrees of severity of bowed legs in ducks. A = 0, normal. B = 2 , bowed. C = 4 , very bowed. D = 6, crippled.
BOWED LEGS IN DUCKS
139
Experiment D-6.-^-This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of different levels of dried brewers' yeast and five different samples of dried distillers' solubles atithe 10 percent level upon the bowed-leg disorder. In order to determine whether the response obtained from yeast was due to one or more of the known vitamins contained in yeast, one lot of ducklings received a mixture of the known synthetic vitamins. Other lots received
presented evidence of the detrimental effect of fish liver oil and the beneficial effect of dried brewers' yeast and other materials on the enlarged hock disorder in turkeys, this experiment was conducted to determine whether or not yeast would also prevent the bowed leg deformity in ducks. The results of this experiment, presented in Table 1, showed that all of the ducklings receiving the basal ration were
Without antibiotic Supplement to basal ration
Bowed Average weight Bowed Average weight legs legs 3 wks 3 wks 6 wks 8 wks 3 wks 3 wks 6 wks 8 wks
% None 2 % Fish liver oil 2 % Fish liver o i l + 5 % dried yeast 2 % Fish liver o i l + 5 % dried 2 % Fish liver o i l + 5 % dried solubles 2 % Fish liver o i l + 5 % dried 2 % Fish Jiveroil+4% grass Vitamin Bi2 (11.25 mg./T.) Aureomycin (11 gm./T.)
With antibiotic'
%
100 100
gm. 1,054 994
gm. 2,545 2,540
gm. 3,245 3,076
100 100
gm. 1,102 892
gm. 2,637 2,488
gm. 3,228 3,243
6 100
1,039 955
2,593 2,532
3,019 3,038
0 100
1,136 1,020
2,625 2,598
3,182 3,055
63 95 90 95
767 847 1,094 1,039
2,384 2,311 2,590 2,523
3,058 2,779 2,929 2,938
100 95 94
1,089 1,036 1,075
2,438 2,600 2,526
2,880 3,110 2,942
—
—
—
—
brewers' skim milk distillers' whey juice
—
—
100:. •
—
968 2,447
—
2,934
* Lederle Aurofac #66 (2.2 gm. aureomycin per lb.)—5 lb./T.
bow-legged at 3 weeks of age. The incidence of bowed legs was not influenced by the feeding of fish liver oil, dried skim milk, dried whey, grass juice, or vitamin B12. The addition of an antibiotic also failed to improve the condition. The addition of 5 percent of dried brewers' yeast protected most of the ducklings against the disorder. The feeding of 5 percent of' dried distillers' solubles gave partial protection. • The addition of 2 percent of fish liver oil to the basal diet depressed growth. In the presence of the 2 percent level of fish liver oil, growth was not improved by the addition of any of the supplements to the basal ration. The inclusion of an antibiotic in the diet had only a slight, if any influence upon growth.
2 percent of fish liver oil, an acid-alcohol extract of yeast and calcium pantothenate as single supplements. All supplements were fed alone and in the presence of an antibiotic (aureomycin). The results of the experiment are shown in Table 2. Again, 100 percent of the ducklings receiving the basal ration showed bowed legs by the end of the third week. Feeding 2.5 percent of dried brewers' yeast reduced the incidence to 28 percent, whereas the 5 and 7.5 percent levels of dried brewers' yeast completely prevented bowed legs. The acid-alcohol extract of yeast fed at a level equivalent to 5 percent of yeast reduced the incidence of bowed legs to 24 percent. The different samples of dried distillers' solubles produced variable responses. In the lot of ducklings receiving
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at University of Manchester on April 20, 2015
TABLE 1.—Results of Experiment V-5.—Weight and incidence of bowed legs in ducklings
140
G. F. HEUSER AND M. L. SCOTT
the vitamin mixture only 8 percent showed bowed legs thus indicating that the condition was probably due to a deficiency of a known vitamin. The necessary vitamin does not appear to be pantothenic acid since the lots receiving this vitamin alone showed no improvement in incidence or severity of the disorder. In this experiment, growth was im-
the bow-legged condition was almost completely prevented by a mixture of known vitamins, a further experiment was conducted in an effort to determine which of the known vitamins is required. One lot of ducklings again received the complete vitamin mixture while other lots received this mixture except for the omission of one or more of the vitamins. The plan of this
TABLE 2.—Results of Experiment D-6.—Weight and incidence of bowed legs in ducklings
Supplement to basal ration
Bowed legs (3 wks) Inci- Severdence ity*
% None 2.5% Dried brewers' yeast 5% Dried brewers' yeast 7.5% Dried brewers' yeast Calcium pantothenate (20 gm./T.) Vitamin mixture** 10% Dried distillers' solubles #1 10% Dried distillers'solubles #2 10% Dried distillers' solubles #3 10% Dried distillers' solubles #4 10% Dried distillers' solubles #5 2% Fish liver oil Yeast extract ( = 5 % yeast)
100 28 0 0 100 8 100 100 64 100 92 100 24
3.5 2.1 0 0 3.6 1.5 4.1 3.3 2.4 3.1 2.1 4.3 1.8
With antibiotic (aureomycin 10 gm./T.)
Avg. wt. 3 wks
4 wks
gm. 994 1,071 1,249 1,221 1,022 1,153 953 1,040 1,053 1,108 1,090 908 1,171
gm. 1,376 1,444 1,625 1,625 1,389 1,535 1,326 1,407 1,335 1,525 1,562 1,285 1,616
Bowed legs (3 wks) Inci- Severdence ity
% 100 29 0 0 100 4 100 92 76 95 74 100 46
4.0 ' 2.1 0 0 4.1 1.5 4.3 3.4 3.3 2.7 2.0 4.0 2.4
Avg., wt. 3 wks
4 wks
gm. 953 1,190 1,230 1,199 1,026 1,190 1,017 1,062 1,062 1,094 985 990 1,212
gm. 1,380 1,607 1,657 1,634 1,444 1,607 1,335 1,525 1,444 1,625 1,394 1,380 1,598
* 0 = normal. 1 = slight bowing. 6=extreme crippling with duckling unable to stand, ** The following vitamins, expressed as milligrams per pound of diet, were added: niacin, 10; riboflavin, 2; thiamine hydrochloride, 1; pyridoxine hydrochloride, 2; calcium pantothenate, 10; choline chloride, 500; alpha-tocopherol acetate, 5; vitamin K (menadione), 2; folic acid, 0.5; biotin, 0.05; and vitamin Bi2, 0.01.
proved by the addition of yeast, yeast extract, and the vitamin mixture. The growth responses to the different samples of dried distillers' solubles were variable. The antibiotic apparently had no appreciable effect upon either growth or the occurrence of leg weakness as evidenced by the fact that good agreement was obtained in both growth and leg weakness scores in the duplicate lots with and without the antibiotic. Experiment D-7.—In view of the discovery in the previous experiment that
experiment and the results are presented in Table 3. As in the previous experiments, the ducklings receiving the basal diet alone showed an incidence of 100 percent of bowed legs at 3 weeks of age. This was also true for a lot receiving 5 percent of alfalfa meal and another receiving the Citrovorum factor.1 The addition of 7.5 percent of dried brewers' yeast or the complete 1 We are indebted to Lederle Laboratories, Pearl River, New York, for the Citrovorum factor.
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Without antibiotic
141
BOWED LEGS IN DUCKS
TABLE 3.—Results of Experiment D-7.—Weight and incidence of bowed legs in ducks at 3 weeks of age
Supplement to basal ration
None 7.5% Dried brewers' yeast 5% Alfalfa meal Citrovorum factor (0.5 mg./lb.) Vitamin mixture* Vitamin mixture*-{-antibiotic** Vitamin mixture* (except vitamin E) Vitamin mixture* (except Bi, Bi, Bu pantothenic acid and choline) Vitamin mixture* (except Be) Vitamin mixture* (except biotin) Vitamin mixture* (except folic acid) Vitamin mixture* (except niacin)
Incidence bowed Avg. wt. legs
%
gm.
100 0 100 100 0 0 0
1,098 1,290 1,153 1.178 1,283 1,313 1,310
0 0 0 0 100
1,300 1,328 1,265 1,311 1,142
* Same as indicated in Table 2. ** 5 mg. aureomycin, 5 mg. bacitracin and 2.5 mg. penicillin per lb.
the addition of niacin alone would prevent the leg disorder and to determine whether or not the niacin present in wheat standard middlings is as effective as free niacin and the niacin present in dried brewers' yeast. Accordingly, niacin was fed at levels of 5 and 10 milligrams per pound of diet; dried brewers' yeast at 3.8 and 7.5 percent (which according to microbiological assay supplied levels of 5 and 10 mg. of niacin per pound of diet, respectively); and wheat standard middlings was increased, for one lot, to 28 percent of the diet which, according to the assays, increased the level of niacin by 5 mg. per pound of diet. The results are presented in Table 4.
TABLE 4.—Results of Experiment D-8.—Effect of niacin upon growth and incidence of bowed legs and the relative availability of niacin m yeast and wheat standard middlings
Supplement to basal ration
Incidence bowed legs
Avg. wt.
% 100 45 0 5 25 0 100 0 100
gm. 1,080 1,315 1,263 1,334 1,333 1,336 1,243 1,313 1,125
100
1,018
None Niacin, 5 mg./lb. Niacin, 10 mg./lb. Niacin, 10 mg./lb. -f-antibiotics and sulfa* Dried brewers'yeast, 3.8% Dried brewers'yeast, 7.5% Wheat standard middlings, 28% Vitamin mixture** Vitamin mixture** (except niacin) Vitamin mixture** (except niacin) -(-antibiotics***
* 5 mg. aureomycin HC1 and 4 mg. procaine penicillin per lb. and 1% succinylsulfathiazole. ** As described in footnote to Table 2. *** 5 mg. aureomycin HCI, 5 mg. bacitracin and 2.5 mg. procaine penicillin per lb.
The ducklings receiving the basal diet or this diet supplemented with all vitamins except niacin suffered a 100 percent incidence of bowed legs at 3 weeks of age. The addition of 5 milligrams of niacin per pound of basal ration reduced the incidence to 45 percent whereas the addition of 10 milligrams of niacin per pound of basal ration entirely eliminated the bowed legs. When 3.8 percent of yeast contributing approximately 5 milligrams of niacin was fed, 25 percent of the ducklings had bowed legs. Seven and one-half percent of dried brewers' yeast, contributing approximately 10 milligrams of niacin per pound of diet completely prevented the leg deformity. On the other hand, the lot receiving 28 percent of standard midlings contributing a niacin level equivalent to 5 milligrams per pound of diet showed 100 percent bowed legs. In addition to preventing leg weakness, niacin appears to be the factor responsible for the growth-promoting effect of dried brewers' yeast observed in this and the previous experiments. The 5 milligram level of niacin per pound of diet appears to be sufficient for optimum growth whereas 10 milligrams of niacin is required to prevent leg weakness completely.
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vitamin mixture prevented the disorder. Leg weakness was also prevented when individual vitamins or groups of vitamins were omitted from the vitamin mixture, with the exception of the lot from which niacin was omitted. When niacin was omitted all of the ducklings showed bowed legs. Growth was improved in all lots receiving yeast or a vitamin mixture containing niacin. Experiment D-8.—This experiment was conducted to determine whether or not
142
G. F. HEUSER AND M. L. SCOTT DISCUSSION
On the other hand, 5 to 7.5 percent of dried brewers' yeast completely prevented bowed legs and produced a normal rate of growth. However, in further studies it was discovered that this effect of yeast was entirely due to its high niacin content and that synthetic niacin was as effective as yeast, when fed at equivalent niacin levels, in preventing the bowed leg deformity and in promoting growth. According to microbiological analysis using the method worked out by the collaborative efforts of the U. S. Pharmacopeia and the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists as reported by Snell in the book by Gyorgy (1950) the niacin content of the basal diet used in these studies was 13.6 milligrams per pound of diet. The fact that it was found necessary to increase the niacin level by 10 milligrams per pound of diet in order to prevent leg weakness indicates either that the duckling has a relatively high niacin requirement, as compared, for example, with the niacin requirement of the chick, or
that much of the niacin in the basal diet is unavailable to the, duckling. In experiment D-8 it was found that the niacin present in dried brewer's yeast was apparently much more available to the duckling than that present in wheat standard middlings. The extent to which the niacin present in other natural feedstuffs is unavailable for the duckling remains to be determined. SUMMARY
1. The bowed leg disorder in ducklings raised on wire-mesh floors appears to be due to a niacin deficiency and was entirely prevented by supplementing the diet with 5 to 7.5 percent of dried brewers' yeast or by adding 10 milligrams of synthetic niacin per pound of ration. 2. Satisfactory growth was obtained with the addition of 3.8 percent of dried brewers' yeast or 5 milligrams of synthetic niacin per pound of ration. 3. The niacin present in wheat standard middlings appeared to be relatively unavailable to the duckling as compared with synthetic niacin or to that present in dried brewers' yeast. REFERENCES Fritz, J. C , W. Archer and D. Barker, 1941. Vitamin D requirements of ducklings. Poultry Sci. 20:151-154. Gyorgy, P., 1950. Vitamin Methods. Academic Press, Inc., New York. Heuser, G. F., M. L. Scott, R. K. Eskew and P. W. Edwards, 1951. Studies in duck nutrition. 3. The feeding of potatoes to ducks. Poultry Sci. 30:672-678. Motzok, I., and H. D. Branion, 1948. The vitamin D requirements of growing ducks. Poultry Sci. 27:482-485. Scott, M. L., 1950. Studies on the enlarged hock disorder (perosis) in turkeys. J. Nutrition 40: 611-624. Scott, M. L., 1951a. Studies on the enlarged hock disorder in turkeys. 2. Factors affecting the excretion and retention of creatine by young poults. Poultry Sci. 30: 839-845. Scott, M. L., 1951b. Studies on the enlarged hock
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Pekin ducklings reared in pens with f inch wire-mesh floors and fed practical rations developed a severe leg weakness characterized by a bowing of the legs, ultimately resulting in complete crippling of many of the ducklings. The addition of cod liver oil to these rations, which has been shown to aggravate the incidence and severity of the enlarged hock disorder in turkeys, was unnecessary in order to produce a high incidence of bowed legs in ducklings. Supplementing the basal diet with alfalfa meal, dried skim milk, or dried whey at a level of 5 percent had no effect upon the incidence of the disorder. Four percent of grass juice also failed to alter the symptoms. The addition of an antibiotic to the diet had no effect upon the bowed leg disorder and also had no appreciable effect upon growth.
DIM RED LIGHT AND EGG PRODUCTION disorder in turkeys. 3. Evidence of the detrimental effect of fish liver oil and the beneficial effect of dried brewers' yeast and other materials. Poultry Sci. 30: 846-855. Scott, M. L., 1952. Effect of dried distillers' solubles,
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whey and lactose upon enlarged hocks in turkeys, Poultry Sci. 31: 175-176. Scott, M. L., and G. F. Heuser, 1952. Studies in duck nutrition. 4. Bowed legs in ducks caused by niacin deficiency. Poultry Sci. 31: 752-754.
Maintaining Winter Egg Production by the Use of Dim Red Light Department of Poultry Husbandry, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey (Received for publication July 19, 1952)
T
HE fact that lengthening the hours of light during the winter increases the egg production of fowls at that season has been known for many years. The literature has been fully covered by Dobie, Carver and Roberts (1946). The theory that the increase of gonadal activity may be caused by the effect of light on the endocrine system has been reviewed by Rowan (1938). Rider (1938) has shown that fowls need not have feed available during the hours when artificial light is provided; this was confirmed by Callenbach, Nichols and Murphy (1943). Fairbanks (1924) demonstrated that the intensity of light at the surface of the fowl need not exceed one foot-candle. That red rays of light were stimulating to egg production and blue rays depressing was shown by Rider (1938). In view of the evidence, there was every reason to believe that if fowls were exposed to a dim red light while on the perches at night, winter egg production would be maintained at a satisfactory level, even though the birds did not leave the perches to get feed and water, and that the red
Paper of the Journal Series, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, Rutgers University— the State University of New Jersey, Department of Poultry Husbandry.
light might result in even higher egg production than that normally obtained from the common practice of providing light from mazda bulbs. Furthermore, when this project was initiated during World War II, government regulations prohibited any light showing toward the sea in a prescribed area along the Atlantic Coast, and it was learned that these regulations could be met without difficulty by using red bulbs hung directly in frontof the perches, with a shield between the roosts and the front windows. In the first trial, two groups were used, each comprised of 40 White Leghorn pullets hatched in March. One group was provided with light from 15-watt red bulbs turned on from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. starting September 28. This system exposed the birds to the light all the time they were on the roosts. The second group received no supplemental light. Both groups were fed a standard layer mash ad libitum and grain in hoppers for one hour in the late afternoon. Weekly percentage rates of egg production are shown in Table 1; they indicate clearly that the lighted group produced at a distinctly higher rate. Following the initial trial, various methods of providing the red light^were
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C. S. PLATT