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The Occurrence of Leg Weakness in Mature Turkeys1
The Occurrence of Leg Weakness in Mature Turkeys 1 J. R. HUNT 2 AND JAMES MCGINNIS
Department of Poultry Science, State College of Washington, Pullman (Received for publication October 14, 1958)
(1950), reported that the ocS COTT currence of enlarged hocks at 2 to 4 weeks of age in turkey poults increased the incidence of leg weakness or perosis in mature turkeys. Later, Scott (1953) demonstrated that the addition of 30 mg. of niacin and 5 mg. of alpha tocopheryl acetate per pound of feed completely prevented the early condition. Also, the addition of the same level of alpha tocopheryl acetate and 20 mg. of niacin per pound to the developing ration prevented the mature leg condition in turkeys that showed a high incidence of the leg abnormalities as poults. Single supplementation of niacin or alpha tocopheryl acetate to the developing diet had no beneficial effect. Slinger et al. (1954) fed starting and developing mashes containing all combinations of 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7 percent inorganic phosphorus and 0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 I.U. of vitamin E per pound. Vitamin E and phosphorus reduced the incidence and severity of perosis in the turkeys at 24 weeks of age. The most efficient levels of inorganic phosphorus and vitamine E were found to be 0.7 percent and 5.0 I.U., respectively. In later work, Slinger et al. (1955) found that 0.5 percent inorganic phosphorus was adequate in the developing mash, provided that 0.7 percent inorganic phosphorus had been supplied in the diet from hatching to 8 weeks of age. Vitamin E also prevented (or helped prevent) perosis in the mature 1 Scientific Paper No. 1776, Washington Agricultural Experiment Station, Pullman, Project No. 761. 2 Present address: Poultry Division, Central Experiment Farm, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
turkeys in these experiments. These workers also noted a higher incidence of leg weakness in mature turkeys when the birds were reared on slat floor sun-porches than when reared on deep litter. The object of the experiments reported in this paper was to determine the effect of various dietary treatments on the incidence of mature leg weakness and also to observe the effect of the condition seen at 2-5 weeks of age on the occurrence of the disorder in mature turkeys. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE AND RESULTS
Experiment 1. The nutrition of turkeys reared on range can be quite variable. Therefore, a study of the effect of the calcium and phosphorus content of the diet on the development of leg weakness was undertaken. Day-old Broad Breasted Bronze male poults were banded and placed under electric brooders on a deep litter floor of wood shavings. Mash and water were supplied free choice at all times. The diets (composition given in Table 1) were fed to four groups of 40 poults. Three groups were fed a regular turkey starter while the fourth group received the low calciumphosphorus starter. The ratio of calciumphosphorus was the same for all diets. At 8 weeks of age, 30 of the fastest growing birds from each group were randomly divided into two groups of 15 and fed developing diets (composition given in Table 1). These diets consisted of a regular developing diet which was the control ration, a developing diet low in calcium and phosphorus, and a developing diet high in calcium and phosphorus. The birds which had
607
608
J. R. HUNT AND J. T A B L E 1.—Composition of diets
T A B L E 2.—Effect of calcium-phosphorus level on the body weight and leg abnormalities at 24 weeks of age
Diets Starter* Ground yellow corn Wheat mixed feed Ground oats Soybean oil meal (44% protein) Herring fish meal (70% protein) Brewers dried yeast Dehydrated alfalfa meal (17% protein) Steamed bone meal Ground limestone Iodized saltt Riboflavin Supp. (0.5 mg./gm.) Vitamin A-D Supp. (4.000 I.U. A, 750I.C.U. Dj) Choline chloride (25%) MnS04 (70%) Procaine penicillin
42.4
— — 37.S 10.0 2.5 2.5 3.3 1.8 0.3 0.3
0.2 0.4 0.025 3 ppm.
MCGINNIS
Developerf 39.2 10.0 15.0 10.0 10.0
— 10.0 2.6 2.0 1.0 — 0.2 — 0.025 3 ppm.
* Low calcium-phosphorus starter was identical except that it contained no steamed bone meal. t Low calcium-phosphorus developer was identical except that it contained no steamed bone meal while the high calciumphosphorus developer contained twice the amount of steamed bone meal. t Contained .007% iodine.
received the low calcium, low phosphorus starter diet remained on this regime, receiving the low calcium phosphorus developer. The poults that received the regular starter diet were placed on the other diets. Whole wheat and silica grit were given free choice from 8 weeks to 24 weeks of age. At 8 weeks the birds were allowed access to sun-porches of one inch mesh wire. Observations for leg abnormalities and individual body weights were made at 4 week intervals to 24 weeks of age. The results presented in Table 2 show that deformity in mature turkeys was observed only in the groups receiving high level of calcium and phosphorus in the diet. However, it is believed that this low incidence could be due to chance and does not indicate a true dietary effect. The various calcium and phosphorus levels of the diet did not significantly affect the growth of the birds. Experiment 2. This experiment was designed to test, (1) the effect of the occurrence of early (2-4 weeks of age) hock condition, and (2) the effect of supplemental niacin and vitamin E in the starting and developer diets on the occurrence of leg weakness in mature turkeys.
Treatment No.
0-8 wk. Ca.
1 2 3 4
%
2.0 1.0 2.0 2.0
P.
%
1.0 0.5 1.0 1.0
24 weeks of age
8-24 wk. Ca.
%
2.0 1.2 1.2 2.8
P.
%
1.0 0.6 0.6 1.4
Leg No. weakness of (%) birds 0.0 0.0 0.0 7.1
29 27 29 28
Av. wt. kgm. 10.15 9.87 9.95 10.20
Day-old Broad Breasted Bronze poults were brooded in the same manner as the previous experiments, except that they were not given access to sun-porches in the 8-24 week period and the diet was fed in an allmash form throughout the experiment. The experimental diets are described in Table 3. Two groups of 24 poults received each of the following treatments: Diet 1; Diet 1 plus 50 mg. niacin per pound; Diet 1 plus SO I.U. of vitamin E per pound; Diet 1 plus the combination of niacin and vitamin E, while Diet 2 was fed to a similar number of poults as a positive control to 3 weeks of age. At this time all poults were scored individually for hock enlargement and placed on Diet 3 with identical supplementation as received from 0 to 3 weeks. At 8 weeks of age each treatment was randomly divided into four groups of 12 birds. Each group of 12 birds was divided into four replicates and fed one of the 4 developing treatments. By this method, birds that had been on one treatment for 0 to 8 weeks were put on all four of the developing treatments. The control treatment was maintained throughout the experiment. Supplements to the developing diet were the same as those added to the starting diets. Body weight and observation for leg abnormalities were recorded at 4 week intervals until termination of the experiment at 24 weeks. The body weights and incidence of leg weakness at 24 weeks of age are given in Table 4. When the birds were scored for
609
LEG WEAKNESS IN MATURE TURKEYS TABLE 3.—Composition of starting and developing diets Diets" Ingredients 1 Ground corn Ground barley Soybean oil meal Fish meal (70% protein) Meat and bone meal (50% protein) Dehydrated alfalfa meal Brewers dried yeast Dried distillers solubles Dried whole whey Ground limestone Steamed bone meal Iodized salt MnS0 4 (70% Vit. A + D Suppl. (4,000 A , 750 D 3 ) Vit. D suppl. (1,500 D 3 ) Riboflavin suppl. (0.5 mg. /gm-) Choline chloride Procaine penicillin Sulfaquinoxaline Vitamin mix Mineral mix Raw soybean oil Unwashed isolated soybearL protein"1
55.0
— —
•
— — — — — — — —. — — —• — — —
2
3
41.70
40.00
—
—
40.00 10.00
— — — —
2.50 2.00 0.30 0.025 0.20
•—
5
41.90 20.00 22.60 5.00
37.00 5.00 5.00 2.50 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 1.50 0.25 0.025
2.50
5 ppm. 0.0175 0.72 bb 7.97 1.00 34.60
4
53.20 20.00 11.30 5.00
—
—
5.00
5.00
— — — — —
— — — — —
0.4 0.025
— —
0.4 0.025
—
—
0.1
0.70 0.70 5 ppm. 0.0175 0.393
0.50 0.50 5 ppm.
— — —
— — —
0.1
— —
—
0.393"
— —
3 ppm.
3 ppm.
— — — — —
— — — — — •
" 1, semi-purified diet, 0-3 wk.; 2, turkey starter 3-8 wk.; 3, turkey starter control diet, 0-3 wk.; 4, turkey developer (20% protein) 8-17 wk.; 5, turkey developer (16% protein), 17-24 wk. b As in basal diet (Hunt and McGinnis, 1959). c Added the following per pound of feed: Vitamin A, 2,0001.U.; Vitamin D 3 , 802 I.C.U.; d-calcium pantothenate, 3 mgs.; niacin, 10 mgs.; Vitamin E, 10 I.U.; oxytetracycline, 25 mgs.; and DL-methionine, 113 mgs. d Product of the Drackett Company, Cincinnati, Ohio.
enlarged hocks at 3 weeks of age, all of the poults receiving Diet 1 showed hock abnormality, regardless of the supplementation with vitamin E and niacin. The control treatment (Diet 3) was completely free of the disorder. The occurrence of this early hock enlargement appeared to have no effect on incidence of leg weakness in ma-
ture turkeys. The percentage incidence at 24 weeks of age was slightly greater in the poults fed the control diet (Diet 3) than among the poults that showed 100 percent incidence at 3 weeks of age (Diet 1). Supplementation of the developing diets with niacin, vitamin E and the combination had no apparent effect on the incidence of
TABLE 4.—The effect of niacin and vitamin E supplementation on growth and occurrence of leg weakness in 24 week old turkeys 0-8 weeks No.
8-24 weeks Treatments
1 2 3 4 5
None 50 I.U. Vit. E SO mg. Niacin 50 I.U. Vit. E plus 50 mg. Niacin Control
50 I.TJ. Vit. E a
None
50 I.U. Vit. E plus 50 mg. Niacin
Av. % leg weakness 8-24 wk.
Wt. b
LW°
Wt.
LW
Wt.
LW
Wt.
LW
10.46 10.43 10.36
0.0 0.0 0.0
10.39 10.77 10.67
16.6 0.0 0.0
10.91 10.79 10.49
0.0 0.0 0.0
10.79 10.66 10.17
16.6 16.6 16.6
8.3 4.2 4.2
10.78 10.47
0.0 8.3
10.47
0.0
10.23
8.3
10.21
0.0
2.1 8.3
* Supplement per pound of diet. Body weight in kilograms at 24 weeks of age. Percent leg weakness.
b c
50 mg. Niacin
610
J. R. HUNT AND J. MCGINNIS
the mature condition. The small differences that did occur are not believed to be significant without further repetition of this study. Analysis of variance on the 24 week body weight showed no significant difference that was due to dietary treatment. DISCUSSION Results of the first experiment are in disagreement with the work of Slinger et al. (1955) who reported that the presence of 0.7 percent inorganic phosphorus in the diet from 0-8 weeks and 0.5 percent from 8-24 weeks resulted in a significant reduction in the incidence of leg weakness in mature turkeys. Results of the present study indicate that sufficient inorganic phosphorus was not a contributing factor, because in Experiment 1 the disorder only appeared in turkeys fed the high calciumphosphorus diets. These birds received a normal starter which contained 0.7 percent inorganic phosphorus (calculated) from 0-8 weeks of age. Though the differences observed in this experiment are not considered significant they do demonstrate that enlarged hocks or perosis can occur in turkeys fed a diet containing high levels of inorganic phosphorus in the starting and developing diets and that this condition is not necessarily associated with low phosphorus starting diets. The occurrence of the leg weakness on the high calcium-phosphorus diets suggest a relationship to zinc metabolism. Lewis et al. (1956) found parakeratosis, a zinc deficiency of swine, to be aggravated by additional calcium but unaffected by additional phosphorus. Supplee et al. (1958) reported that enlarged hocks in two week old poults could be prevented by supplementing the diet with zinc. Further studies are necessary to determine the value of supplementary zinc on the incidence of mature leg weakness in turkeys.
The beneficial effects of vitamin E (Scott, 1953; and Slinger et al., 1955) and niacin (Scott, 1953) could not be demonstrated in the second experiment. Scott (1953) reported a marked reduction in the occurrence of leg weakness in turkeys at 20 weeks of age when 20 mg. of niacin and 5 mg. of alpha-tocopheryl acetate were added per pound of diet. This was demonstrated in four separate experiments with similar results in each test. However, when these supplements were tested under field conditions in a different area of the country, they failed to reduce the incidence of leg weakness (Scott, 1954). Slinger et al. (1955) found that vitamin E supplementation at 5.0 I.U. per pound of diet reduced the incidence in all cases except in diets which contained 0.3 percent inorganic phosphorus. In the presence of 0.7 percent and 0.5 percent inorganic phosphorus in starting and developing rations respectively, addition of the above level of vitamin E completely prevented the disorder. In the studies reported herein, addition of niacin and vitamin E, alone and in combination, to starting or growing diets had no apparent effect, even though they were added at higher levels than those found to be effective by Scott (1953). Scott (1950) also reported that leg weakness at 2 to 4 weeks of age induced a stress condition which caused leg weakness in turkeys between 8 and 14 weeks of age. Under our experimental conditions the occurence of the 2 to 4 week condition had no effect on occurrence and severity of leg weakness in mature turkeys. These differences may possibly be explained by the fact that in our laboratory the 2 to 4 week condition was induced by feeding an isolated soybean protein, while Scott had induced the abnormality by stress conditions that require additional niacin and vitamin E. However, appearance and disappearance of the early condition at similar times in both
LEG WEAKNESS IN MATURE TURKEYS
laboratories and the similarity of external appearances tend to indicate that the observed abnormalities are similar. A recent report by Johnson (1956) indicates that inheritance has a marked effect on incidence of leg weakness in mature turkeys. He showed that incidence of leg weakness could be correlated with sire in 2 out of 3 hatches. In the third hatch, however, the incidence of the abnormality was so low that this could not be demonstrated statistically. There was no significant correlation between incidence and 12-week body weight, although the lowest incidence occurred in the groups with the lowest 12week body weight. It appears from the diverse differences reported in the literature that several factors are important in this problem. Further study is necessary to completely explain the problem. SUMMARY
Experiments showing the effect of varying the calcium-phosphorus level (not ratio) in starting and developing diets on incidence of perosis in mature turkeys are. described. The disorder only occurred in birds which were fed the high level calciumphosphorus diet, but the incidence of the abnormality was not considered significant. Similarly, supplementary niacin and vitamin E, fed alone and in combination, in starting and developing diets were ineffective in preventing leg abnormalities in tur-
611
keys at 2-4 weeks of age and at maturity. When enlarged hocks was induced at 2 to 4 weeks by feeding an isolated soybean protein, this early abnormality had no effect on the incidence of leg weakness in mature turkeys. REFERENCES Hunt, J. R. and J. McGinnis, 1959. The prevention of a perosis-like condition in turkey poults. Poultry Sci., 38: 612-619. Johnson, A. S., 1956. Incidence of an abnormal hock condition in male turkeys as influenced by genetic differences and hatch. Poultry Sci. 35: 790-792. Lewis, P. K., Jr., W. G. Hoekstra, R. H. Grummer and P. H. Phillips, 1956. The effect of certain nutritional factors including calcium, phosphorus and zinc on parakeratosis in swine. J. Animal Sci. 15: 741-751. Scott, M. L., 1950. Studies on the enlarged hock disorder (perosis) in turkeys. J. Nutrition, 40: 611-624. Scott, M. L., 1953. Prevention of the enlarged hock disorder in turkeys with niacin and vitamin E. Poultry Sci. 32 : 670-677. Scott, M. L., 1954. There is no cure-all for hock trouble. Washcoegg, 32 (2) : 10. Slinger, S. J., W. F. Pepper and I. Motzok, 1954. Interrelationship between vitamin E and phosphorus in prevention of perosis in turkeys. J. Nutrition, 52: 395-404. Slinger, S. J., W. F. Pepper and D. Arthur, 1955. Effect of phosphorus, vitamin E and environment on growth and the incidence of perosis in turkeys. Poultry Sci., 34: 935-941. Supplee, W. C , G. F. Combs and D. L. Blomberg, 1958. Zinc and potassium effects on bone formation, feathering and growth of poults. Poultry Sci. 37: 63-67.
NEWS AND NOTES (Continued from page 602) COLORADO NOTES A grant was recently received from the National Institutes of Health to carry out research work on the effects of x-ray irradiation on the avian embryo. Harry D. Muller (B.S., M.S.; Kansas State) will work on the problem for his doctorate in poultry genetics under Dr. Robert E. Moreng. Mr. Howard L. Enos has been appointed tempo(Continued ore page 619)
From September 1920 until January 1929 he was in charge of the Poultry Nutrition Laboratory of the Ralston-Purina Company at St. Louis. In 1930 he went to California to manufacture and promote pentachlorophenol derivatives. He lives in Albany, California. In addition to the Poultry Science Association, he is a member of Sigma Xi.
Department of Poultry Science, State College of Washington, Pullman (Received for publication October 14, 1958)
(1950), reported that the ocS COTT currence of enlarged hocks at 2 to 4 weeks of age in turkey poults increased the incidence of leg weakness or perosis in mature turkeys. Later, Scott (1953) demonstrated that the addition of 30 mg. of niacin and 5 mg. of alpha tocopheryl acetate per pound of feed completely prevented the early condition. Also, the addition of the same level of alpha tocopheryl acetate and 20 mg. of niacin per pound to the developing ration prevented the mature leg condition in turkeys that showed a high incidence of the leg abnormalities as poults. Single supplementation of niacin or alpha tocopheryl acetate to the developing diet had no beneficial effect. Slinger et al. (1954) fed starting and developing mashes containing all combinations of 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7 percent inorganic phosphorus and 0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 I.U. of vitamin E per pound. Vitamin E and phosphorus reduced the incidence and severity of perosis in the turkeys at 24 weeks of age. The most efficient levels of inorganic phosphorus and vitamine E were found to be 0.7 percent and 5.0 I.U., respectively. In later work, Slinger et al. (1955) found that 0.5 percent inorganic phosphorus was adequate in the developing mash, provided that 0.7 percent inorganic phosphorus had been supplied in the diet from hatching to 8 weeks of age. Vitamin E also prevented (or helped prevent) perosis in the mature 1 Scientific Paper No. 1776, Washington Agricultural Experiment Station, Pullman, Project No. 761. 2 Present address: Poultry Division, Central Experiment Farm, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
turkeys in these experiments. These workers also noted a higher incidence of leg weakness in mature turkeys when the birds were reared on slat floor sun-porches than when reared on deep litter. The object of the experiments reported in this paper was to determine the effect of various dietary treatments on the incidence of mature leg weakness and also to observe the effect of the condition seen at 2-5 weeks of age on the occurrence of the disorder in mature turkeys. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE AND RESULTS
Experiment 1. The nutrition of turkeys reared on range can be quite variable. Therefore, a study of the effect of the calcium and phosphorus content of the diet on the development of leg weakness was undertaken. Day-old Broad Breasted Bronze male poults were banded and placed under electric brooders on a deep litter floor of wood shavings. Mash and water were supplied free choice at all times. The diets (composition given in Table 1) were fed to four groups of 40 poults. Three groups were fed a regular turkey starter while the fourth group received the low calciumphosphorus starter. The ratio of calciumphosphorus was the same for all diets. At 8 weeks of age, 30 of the fastest growing birds from each group were randomly divided into two groups of 15 and fed developing diets (composition given in Table 1). These diets consisted of a regular developing diet which was the control ration, a developing diet low in calcium and phosphorus, and a developing diet high in calcium and phosphorus. The birds which had
607
608
J. R. HUNT AND J. T A B L E 1.—Composition of diets
T A B L E 2.—Effect of calcium-phosphorus level on the body weight and leg abnormalities at 24 weeks of age
Diets Starter* Ground yellow corn Wheat mixed feed Ground oats Soybean oil meal (44% protein) Herring fish meal (70% protein) Brewers dried yeast Dehydrated alfalfa meal (17% protein) Steamed bone meal Ground limestone Iodized saltt Riboflavin Supp. (0.5 mg./gm.) Vitamin A-D Supp. (4.000 I.U. A, 750I.C.U. Dj) Choline chloride (25%) MnS04 (70%) Procaine penicillin
42.4
— — 37.S 10.0 2.5 2.5 3.3 1.8 0.3 0.3
0.2 0.4 0.025 3 ppm.
MCGINNIS
Developerf 39.2 10.0 15.0 10.0 10.0
— 10.0 2.6 2.0 1.0 — 0.2 — 0.025 3 ppm.
* Low calcium-phosphorus starter was identical except that it contained no steamed bone meal. t Low calcium-phosphorus developer was identical except that it contained no steamed bone meal while the high calciumphosphorus developer contained twice the amount of steamed bone meal. t Contained .007% iodine.
received the low calcium, low phosphorus starter diet remained on this regime, receiving the low calcium phosphorus developer. The poults that received the regular starter diet were placed on the other diets. Whole wheat and silica grit were given free choice from 8 weeks to 24 weeks of age. At 8 weeks the birds were allowed access to sun-porches of one inch mesh wire. Observations for leg abnormalities and individual body weights were made at 4 week intervals to 24 weeks of age. The results presented in Table 2 show that deformity in mature turkeys was observed only in the groups receiving high level of calcium and phosphorus in the diet. However, it is believed that this low incidence could be due to chance and does not indicate a true dietary effect. The various calcium and phosphorus levels of the diet did not significantly affect the growth of the birds. Experiment 2. This experiment was designed to test, (1) the effect of the occurrence of early (2-4 weeks of age) hock condition, and (2) the effect of supplemental niacin and vitamin E in the starting and developer diets on the occurrence of leg weakness in mature turkeys.
Treatment No.
0-8 wk. Ca.
1 2 3 4
%
2.0 1.0 2.0 2.0
P.
%
1.0 0.5 1.0 1.0
24 weeks of age
8-24 wk. Ca.
%
2.0 1.2 1.2 2.8
P.
%
1.0 0.6 0.6 1.4
Leg No. weakness of (%) birds 0.0 0.0 0.0 7.1
29 27 29 28
Av. wt. kgm. 10.15 9.87 9.95 10.20
Day-old Broad Breasted Bronze poults were brooded in the same manner as the previous experiments, except that they were not given access to sun-porches in the 8-24 week period and the diet was fed in an allmash form throughout the experiment. The experimental diets are described in Table 3. Two groups of 24 poults received each of the following treatments: Diet 1; Diet 1 plus 50 mg. niacin per pound; Diet 1 plus SO I.U. of vitamin E per pound; Diet 1 plus the combination of niacin and vitamin E, while Diet 2 was fed to a similar number of poults as a positive control to 3 weeks of age. At this time all poults were scored individually for hock enlargement and placed on Diet 3 with identical supplementation as received from 0 to 3 weeks. At 8 weeks of age each treatment was randomly divided into four groups of 12 birds. Each group of 12 birds was divided into four replicates and fed one of the 4 developing treatments. By this method, birds that had been on one treatment for 0 to 8 weeks were put on all four of the developing treatments. The control treatment was maintained throughout the experiment. Supplements to the developing diet were the same as those added to the starting diets. Body weight and observation for leg abnormalities were recorded at 4 week intervals until termination of the experiment at 24 weeks. The body weights and incidence of leg weakness at 24 weeks of age are given in Table 4. When the birds were scored for
609
LEG WEAKNESS IN MATURE TURKEYS TABLE 3.—Composition of starting and developing diets Diets" Ingredients 1 Ground corn Ground barley Soybean oil meal Fish meal (70% protein) Meat and bone meal (50% protein) Dehydrated alfalfa meal Brewers dried yeast Dried distillers solubles Dried whole whey Ground limestone Steamed bone meal Iodized salt MnS0 4 (70% Vit. A + D Suppl. (4,000 A , 750 D 3 ) Vit. D suppl. (1,500 D 3 ) Riboflavin suppl. (0.5 mg. /gm-) Choline chloride Procaine penicillin Sulfaquinoxaline Vitamin mix Mineral mix Raw soybean oil Unwashed isolated soybearL protein"1
55.0
— —
•
— — — — — — — —. — — —• — — —
2
3
41.70
40.00
—
—
40.00 10.00
— — — —
2.50 2.00 0.30 0.025 0.20
•—
5
41.90 20.00 22.60 5.00
37.00 5.00 5.00 2.50 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 1.50 0.25 0.025
2.50
5 ppm. 0.0175 0.72 bb 7.97 1.00 34.60
4
53.20 20.00 11.30 5.00
—
—
5.00
5.00
— — — — —
— — — — —
0.4 0.025
— —
0.4 0.025
—
—
0.1
0.70 0.70 5 ppm. 0.0175 0.393
0.50 0.50 5 ppm.
— — —
— — —
0.1
— —
—
0.393"
— —
3 ppm.
3 ppm.
— — — — —
— — — — — •
" 1, semi-purified diet, 0-3 wk.; 2, turkey starter 3-8 wk.; 3, turkey starter control diet, 0-3 wk.; 4, turkey developer (20% protein) 8-17 wk.; 5, turkey developer (16% protein), 17-24 wk. b As in basal diet (Hunt and McGinnis, 1959). c Added the following per pound of feed: Vitamin A, 2,0001.U.; Vitamin D 3 , 802 I.C.U.; d-calcium pantothenate, 3 mgs.; niacin, 10 mgs.; Vitamin E, 10 I.U.; oxytetracycline, 25 mgs.; and DL-methionine, 113 mgs. d Product of the Drackett Company, Cincinnati, Ohio.
enlarged hocks at 3 weeks of age, all of the poults receiving Diet 1 showed hock abnormality, regardless of the supplementation with vitamin E and niacin. The control treatment (Diet 3) was completely free of the disorder. The occurrence of this early hock enlargement appeared to have no effect on incidence of leg weakness in ma-
ture turkeys. The percentage incidence at 24 weeks of age was slightly greater in the poults fed the control diet (Diet 3) than among the poults that showed 100 percent incidence at 3 weeks of age (Diet 1). Supplementation of the developing diets with niacin, vitamin E and the combination had no apparent effect on the incidence of
TABLE 4.—The effect of niacin and vitamin E supplementation on growth and occurrence of leg weakness in 24 week old turkeys 0-8 weeks No.
8-24 weeks Treatments
1 2 3 4 5
None 50 I.U. Vit. E SO mg. Niacin 50 I.U. Vit. E plus 50 mg. Niacin Control
50 I.TJ. Vit. E a
None
50 I.U. Vit. E plus 50 mg. Niacin
Av. % leg weakness 8-24 wk.
Wt. b
LW°
Wt.
LW
Wt.
LW
Wt.
LW
10.46 10.43 10.36
0.0 0.0 0.0
10.39 10.77 10.67
16.6 0.0 0.0
10.91 10.79 10.49
0.0 0.0 0.0
10.79 10.66 10.17
16.6 16.6 16.6
8.3 4.2 4.2
10.78 10.47
0.0 8.3
10.47
0.0
10.23
8.3
10.21
0.0
2.1 8.3
* Supplement per pound of diet. Body weight in kilograms at 24 weeks of age. Percent leg weakness.
b c
50 mg. Niacin
610
J. R. HUNT AND J. MCGINNIS
the mature condition. The small differences that did occur are not believed to be significant without further repetition of this study. Analysis of variance on the 24 week body weight showed no significant difference that was due to dietary treatment. DISCUSSION Results of the first experiment are in disagreement with the work of Slinger et al. (1955) who reported that the presence of 0.7 percent inorganic phosphorus in the diet from 0-8 weeks and 0.5 percent from 8-24 weeks resulted in a significant reduction in the incidence of leg weakness in mature turkeys. Results of the present study indicate that sufficient inorganic phosphorus was not a contributing factor, because in Experiment 1 the disorder only appeared in turkeys fed the high calciumphosphorus diets. These birds received a normal starter which contained 0.7 percent inorganic phosphorus (calculated) from 0-8 weeks of age. Though the differences observed in this experiment are not considered significant they do demonstrate that enlarged hocks or perosis can occur in turkeys fed a diet containing high levels of inorganic phosphorus in the starting and developing diets and that this condition is not necessarily associated with low phosphorus starting diets. The occurrence of the leg weakness on the high calcium-phosphorus diets suggest a relationship to zinc metabolism. Lewis et al. (1956) found parakeratosis, a zinc deficiency of swine, to be aggravated by additional calcium but unaffected by additional phosphorus. Supplee et al. (1958) reported that enlarged hocks in two week old poults could be prevented by supplementing the diet with zinc. Further studies are necessary to determine the value of supplementary zinc on the incidence of mature leg weakness in turkeys.
The beneficial effects of vitamin E (Scott, 1953; and Slinger et al., 1955) and niacin (Scott, 1953) could not be demonstrated in the second experiment. Scott (1953) reported a marked reduction in the occurrence of leg weakness in turkeys at 20 weeks of age when 20 mg. of niacin and 5 mg. of alpha-tocopheryl acetate were added per pound of diet. This was demonstrated in four separate experiments with similar results in each test. However, when these supplements were tested under field conditions in a different area of the country, they failed to reduce the incidence of leg weakness (Scott, 1954). Slinger et al. (1955) found that vitamin E supplementation at 5.0 I.U. per pound of diet reduced the incidence in all cases except in diets which contained 0.3 percent inorganic phosphorus. In the presence of 0.7 percent and 0.5 percent inorganic phosphorus in starting and developing rations respectively, addition of the above level of vitamin E completely prevented the disorder. In the studies reported herein, addition of niacin and vitamin E, alone and in combination, to starting or growing diets had no apparent effect, even though they were added at higher levels than those found to be effective by Scott (1953). Scott (1950) also reported that leg weakness at 2 to 4 weeks of age induced a stress condition which caused leg weakness in turkeys between 8 and 14 weeks of age. Under our experimental conditions the occurence of the 2 to 4 week condition had no effect on occurrence and severity of leg weakness in mature turkeys. These differences may possibly be explained by the fact that in our laboratory the 2 to 4 week condition was induced by feeding an isolated soybean protein, while Scott had induced the abnormality by stress conditions that require additional niacin and vitamin E. However, appearance and disappearance of the early condition at similar times in both
LEG WEAKNESS IN MATURE TURKEYS
laboratories and the similarity of external appearances tend to indicate that the observed abnormalities are similar. A recent report by Johnson (1956) indicates that inheritance has a marked effect on incidence of leg weakness in mature turkeys. He showed that incidence of leg weakness could be correlated with sire in 2 out of 3 hatches. In the third hatch, however, the incidence of the abnormality was so low that this could not be demonstrated statistically. There was no significant correlation between incidence and 12-week body weight, although the lowest incidence occurred in the groups with the lowest 12week body weight. It appears from the diverse differences reported in the literature that several factors are important in this problem. Further study is necessary to completely explain the problem. SUMMARY
Experiments showing the effect of varying the calcium-phosphorus level (not ratio) in starting and developing diets on incidence of perosis in mature turkeys are. described. The disorder only occurred in birds which were fed the high level calciumphosphorus diet, but the incidence of the abnormality was not considered significant. Similarly, supplementary niacin and vitamin E, fed alone and in combination, in starting and developing diets were ineffective in preventing leg abnormalities in tur-
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keys at 2-4 weeks of age and at maturity. When enlarged hocks was induced at 2 to 4 weeks by feeding an isolated soybean protein, this early abnormality had no effect on the incidence of leg weakness in mature turkeys. REFERENCES Hunt, J. R. and J. McGinnis, 1959. The prevention of a perosis-like condition in turkey poults. Poultry Sci., 38: 612-619. Johnson, A. S., 1956. Incidence of an abnormal hock condition in male turkeys as influenced by genetic differences and hatch. Poultry Sci. 35: 790-792. Lewis, P. K., Jr., W. G. Hoekstra, R. H. Grummer and P. H. Phillips, 1956. The effect of certain nutritional factors including calcium, phosphorus and zinc on parakeratosis in swine. J. Animal Sci. 15: 741-751. Scott, M. L., 1950. Studies on the enlarged hock disorder (perosis) in turkeys. J. Nutrition, 40: 611-624. Scott, M. L., 1953. Prevention of the enlarged hock disorder in turkeys with niacin and vitamin E. Poultry Sci. 32 : 670-677. Scott, M. L., 1954. There is no cure-all for hock trouble. Washcoegg, 32 (2) : 10. Slinger, S. J., W. F. Pepper and I. Motzok, 1954. Interrelationship between vitamin E and phosphorus in prevention of perosis in turkeys. J. Nutrition, 52: 395-404. Slinger, S. J., W. F. Pepper and D. Arthur, 1955. Effect of phosphorus, vitamin E and environment on growth and the incidence of perosis in turkeys. Poultry Sci., 34: 935-941. Supplee, W. C , G. F. Combs and D. L. Blomberg, 1958. Zinc and potassium effects on bone formation, feathering and growth of poults. Poultry Sci. 37: 63-67.
NEWS AND NOTES (Continued from page 602) COLORADO NOTES A grant was recently received from the National Institutes of Health to carry out research work on the effects of x-ray irradiation on the avian embryo. Harry D. Muller (B.S., M.S.; Kansas State) will work on the problem for his doctorate in poultry genetics under Dr. Robert E. Moreng. Mr. Howard L. Enos has been appointed tempo(Continued ore page 619)
From September 1920 until January 1929 he was in charge of the Poultry Nutrition Laboratory of the Ralston-Purina Company at St. Louis. In 1930 he went to California to manufacture and promote pentachlorophenol derivatives. He lives in Albany, California. In addition to the Poultry Science Association, he is a member of Sigma Xi.