RESEARCH NOTES
turkey, and possibly the goose, when comparisons are based on a 2-week holding period. The shelf life of fertile eggs from the pheasant and quail in contrast to chukar is very limited and their eggs should not be held beyond 7 days before setting. The reason for the high mortality during late cleavage, prior to formation of the primitive streak, in the pheasant egg is not understood. It may possibly be related to the stage of cellular development attained at time of lay. REFERENCES Asmundson, V. S., 1947. Time held prior to incubation
1711
and hatchability of turkey eggs. Poultry Sci. 26: 305-307. Funk, E. M., 1934. Factors influencing hatchability in the domestic fowl. Mo. Agr. Expt. Sta. Bui. 341. Jackson, H. W., 1912. Poultry experiments. Experiments in incubation. Penn. State Agr. Expt. Sta. Bui. 120: 3-15. Merritt, E. S., and R. W. E. Clarridge, 1959. The effect of length of holding on the hatchability of goose eggs. Poultry Sci. 38: 660-663. Scott, H. M., 1933. The effect of age and holding temperature on hatchability of turkey and chicken eggs. Poultry Sci. 12: 49-54. Waite, R. H., 1919. The effect of age of eggs on their hatching quality. Md. Agr. Expt. Sta. Bull. 233: 87-101.
BIOTIN DEFICIENCY AS A POSSIBLE C A U S E O F S W E L L I N G A N D U L C E R A T I O N OF FOOT PADS' R. H . HARMS AND C. F . SIMPSON
Department of Poultry Science, Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, Gainesville, Florida 32611 (Received for publication March 25, 1975)
ABSTRACT A high incidence of foot pad lesions and breast blisters were observed in broilers. Histological examination of foot pads indicated changes similar to those previously found when broilers were fed a biotin deficient diet. It is suggested that a marginal biotin deficiency in practical diets may be responsible for enlarged foot pads causing birds to rest on their breast resulting in increased breast blisters. POULTRY SCIENCE 54: 1711-1713, 1975
T
HE chick's requirement for biotin in a purified diet was reported to be between 140 and 170 micrograms per kilogram of diet (Anderson and Warnick, 1969). Damron et al. (1971) reported that the addition of biotin to a practical broiler diet containing whey resulted in improved growth of broilers, but the addition of biotin was of no benefit in the absence of supplemental whey. Damron et al. (1972) also reported no response from the addition of biotin to a practical turkey diet in the presence or absence of whey. Robblee and Clandinin (1970) reviewed the
1. Florida Agr. Exp. Sta. Journal Series No. 5855.
literature concerning the role of biotin in turkey feeds and reported that a dermatitis occurred on the foot pad of turkeys which was partially eliminated by supplemental biotin. Forbes and Davies (1972) found histological changes of the foot pad of broilers fed a biotin deficient diet which could be detected before the appearance or gross lesions, lesions of swelling and necrosis. Harms (1974) while investigating a problem with breast blisters in broilers observed a high incidence of foot pad lesions. It was concluded that the lesions on the plantar surface of the feet caused the birds to sit on their breasts, and this resulted in the development of breast
1712
RESEARCH NOTES
FIG. 2. Foot pad lesion, the stratum corneum (Tl is thickened, dermal papillae are elongated and blood vessels (arrows), therein are engorged. H&E stain x 50.
FIG. 1. Foot pad on the left is swollen and the one on the right is ulcerated. blisters. Larger birds had more severe lesions than smaller birds. Birds with foot pad lesions had an unsteady walk; however, there was no involvement of the hock joints. Recently, a high incidence of foot pad lesions and breast blisters were observed in broilers receiving a corn-soybean diet in an experiment conducted at the Florida Experiment Station. Typical lesions are shown in Figure 1. In a few affected birds, there was a swelling of the foot pads and, in many cases, there was a necrosis in this area. Histological examination of these lesions (Figure 2) were similar to those reported by Forbes and Davies (1972). In the present study, it was found that there was a thickening of the stratum corneum, elongation of dermal papillae and dilation and engorgement of blood vessels in this area. The condition appeared to be more severe in pens with damp litter and usually occurred with males but rarely with females. Observations in the present paper and the results of Forbes and Davies indicate that a marginal
biotin deficiency may be responsible for the development of lesions in the foot pad of male broilers and thus result in a high incidence of breast blisters. The occurrence of foot pad lesions in males and not in females may be a result of males requiring more biotin. This might be expected since males have been shown to have higher requirements for other nutrients than females. This is demonstrated by recent data by Eldred et al. (1974) who found that males require approximately 5% more sulfur amino acids than females. The observation in this paper would indicate that further research is warranted on the possible relationship of a marginal deficiency of biotin and the occurrence of foot pad lesions. The relationship of plantar lesions and the development of breast blisters should be investigated. REFERENCES Anderson, J. O., and R. E. Warnick, 1969. Studies on the need for additional biotin in chick rations. Poultry Sci. 48: 1778. Damron. B. L., D. P. Eberst and R. H. Harms, 1971. The influence of partially delactosed whey, fish meal and supplemental biotin. Poultry Sci. 50: 1768-1771. Damron, B. L., D. P. Eberst and R. H. Harms, 1972. The influence of delactosed whey and supplemental
RESEARCH NOTES
biotin in turkey starter diets. Nutr. Rep. Intr. 5: 391-394. Eldred, A. R., B. L. Damron and R. H. Harms, 1974, Unpublished data. Florida Agr. Exp. Sta. Forbes, P. D. and Davies, R. E., 1972. Morphology of normal and abnormal plantar skin of turkey. Research Report. 1972. Temple University Health
1713
Sciences Center, Philadelphia, PA. Harms, R. H., 1974. Personal observation. Florida Agr. Exp. Sta. Robblee, A. R., and D. R. Clandinin, 1970. The role of biotin in the nutrition of turkey poults. Poultry Sci. 49: 976-981.
DIELDRIN DILUTION IN VISCERAL FAT OF FIELD-CONTAMINATED BROILERS G. F. COMBS, JR., R. N. BREWER, N. K. WILLIAMS AND R. W. RICHBURG
Department of Poultry Science, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36830 and Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries Pesticide Residue Laboratory, Auburn, Alabama 36830 (Received for publication April 1, 1975)
ABSTRACT Broilers aged 4, 5 and 6 weeks were selected from 8 commercial flocks which had been accidentally exposed to dieldrin in feeds. The birds were given a dieldrin-free ration and were reared to 10 weeks of age. Dieldrin residues in visceral fat were determined weekly. Results indicated that dieldrin residues are rapidly diluted in the growing chick with a half-time for dilution of approximately 12 days. POULTRY SCIENCE 54: 1713-1716, 1975
INTRODUCTION
A
CCIDENTAL pesticide contamination of broiler feeds has recently resulted in large numbers of unmarketable chickens containing body fat dieldrin 1 concentrations in excess of the U.S.D.A. administrative action level of 0.30 p.p.m. (McClund and Brown, 1974). The extent to which pesticide-contaminated broilers may be reduced to below action levels depends directly upon (a) the age at which contamination is detected, (b) the degree of pesticide contamination, (c) the rate of pesticide metabolism and elimination by the growing chicken and (d) the rate of residue dilution by the addition of new tissue during growth on pesticide-free diets. Decisions regarding the possibility of adequate reduction of pesticide residues in broiler flocks were made difficult due to the lack of information concerning dieldrin metabolism, excretion and dilution in the growing
1. Hexachloroepoxyoctahydrb-endo, exo-dimethanonapthalene, HEOD.
chicken. Thus, recommendations 2 were made by assuming that no metabolic mobilization of dieldrin occurred in the young chicken and that all reductions in dieldrin concentrations in body fat were resultant only of dilution during growth. They were, therefore, conservative extrapolations from standard broiler growth rates. Dietary management of pesticide residue depletion has been attempted in mature animals with limited success. Among the dietary treatments which have been reported to promote the depletion of chlorinated hydrocarbons are iodinated casein (Donaldson et al., 1971), choline and inositol (Creger and Kubena, 1971), selenium (Coon and Couch, 1973), diphenylhydantoin (Davies et al., 1971), and activated charcoal and phenobarbital (Wilson et al. 1968; Egebertson and Davison, 1971; Waibel et al., 1972). This study was conducted, therefore, to determine the effect of dieldrin withdrawal
2. Edgar, S. A., personal communications, 1974.
turkey, and possibly the goose, when comparisons are based on a 2-week holding period. The shelf life of fertile eggs from the pheasant and quail in contrast to chukar is very limited and their eggs should not be held beyond 7 days before setting. The reason for the high mortality during late cleavage, prior to formation of the primitive streak, in the pheasant egg is not understood. It may possibly be related to the stage of cellular development attained at time of lay. REFERENCES Asmundson, V. S., 1947. Time held prior to incubation
1711
and hatchability of turkey eggs. Poultry Sci. 26: 305-307. Funk, E. M., 1934. Factors influencing hatchability in the domestic fowl. Mo. Agr. Expt. Sta. Bui. 341. Jackson, H. W., 1912. Poultry experiments. Experiments in incubation. Penn. State Agr. Expt. Sta. Bui. 120: 3-15. Merritt, E. S., and R. W. E. Clarridge, 1959. The effect of length of holding on the hatchability of goose eggs. Poultry Sci. 38: 660-663. Scott, H. M., 1933. The effect of age and holding temperature on hatchability of turkey and chicken eggs. Poultry Sci. 12: 49-54. Waite, R. H., 1919. The effect of age of eggs on their hatching quality. Md. Agr. Expt. Sta. Bull. 233: 87-101.
BIOTIN DEFICIENCY AS A POSSIBLE C A U S E O F S W E L L I N G A N D U L C E R A T I O N OF FOOT PADS' R. H . HARMS AND C. F . SIMPSON
Department of Poultry Science, Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, Gainesville, Florida 32611 (Received for publication March 25, 1975)
ABSTRACT A high incidence of foot pad lesions and breast blisters were observed in broilers. Histological examination of foot pads indicated changes similar to those previously found when broilers were fed a biotin deficient diet. It is suggested that a marginal biotin deficiency in practical diets may be responsible for enlarged foot pads causing birds to rest on their breast resulting in increased breast blisters. POULTRY SCIENCE 54: 1711-1713, 1975
T
HE chick's requirement for biotin in a purified diet was reported to be between 140 and 170 micrograms per kilogram of diet (Anderson and Warnick, 1969). Damron et al. (1971) reported that the addition of biotin to a practical broiler diet containing whey resulted in improved growth of broilers, but the addition of biotin was of no benefit in the absence of supplemental whey. Damron et al. (1972) also reported no response from the addition of biotin to a practical turkey diet in the presence or absence of whey. Robblee and Clandinin (1970) reviewed the
1. Florida Agr. Exp. Sta. Journal Series No. 5855.
literature concerning the role of biotin in turkey feeds and reported that a dermatitis occurred on the foot pad of turkeys which was partially eliminated by supplemental biotin. Forbes and Davies (1972) found histological changes of the foot pad of broilers fed a biotin deficient diet which could be detected before the appearance or gross lesions, lesions of swelling and necrosis. Harms (1974) while investigating a problem with breast blisters in broilers observed a high incidence of foot pad lesions. It was concluded that the lesions on the plantar surface of the feet caused the birds to sit on their breasts, and this resulted in the development of breast
1712
RESEARCH NOTES
FIG. 2. Foot pad lesion, the stratum corneum (Tl is thickened, dermal papillae are elongated and blood vessels (arrows), therein are engorged. H&E stain x 50.
FIG. 1. Foot pad on the left is swollen and the one on the right is ulcerated. blisters. Larger birds had more severe lesions than smaller birds. Birds with foot pad lesions had an unsteady walk; however, there was no involvement of the hock joints. Recently, a high incidence of foot pad lesions and breast blisters were observed in broilers receiving a corn-soybean diet in an experiment conducted at the Florida Experiment Station. Typical lesions are shown in Figure 1. In a few affected birds, there was a swelling of the foot pads and, in many cases, there was a necrosis in this area. Histological examination of these lesions (Figure 2) were similar to those reported by Forbes and Davies (1972). In the present study, it was found that there was a thickening of the stratum corneum, elongation of dermal papillae and dilation and engorgement of blood vessels in this area. The condition appeared to be more severe in pens with damp litter and usually occurred with males but rarely with females. Observations in the present paper and the results of Forbes and Davies indicate that a marginal
biotin deficiency may be responsible for the development of lesions in the foot pad of male broilers and thus result in a high incidence of breast blisters. The occurrence of foot pad lesions in males and not in females may be a result of males requiring more biotin. This might be expected since males have been shown to have higher requirements for other nutrients than females. This is demonstrated by recent data by Eldred et al. (1974) who found that males require approximately 5% more sulfur amino acids than females. The observation in this paper would indicate that further research is warranted on the possible relationship of a marginal deficiency of biotin and the occurrence of foot pad lesions. The relationship of plantar lesions and the development of breast blisters should be investigated. REFERENCES Anderson, J. O., and R. E. Warnick, 1969. Studies on the need for additional biotin in chick rations. Poultry Sci. 48: 1778. Damron. B. L., D. P. Eberst and R. H. Harms, 1971. The influence of partially delactosed whey, fish meal and supplemental biotin. Poultry Sci. 50: 1768-1771. Damron, B. L., D. P. Eberst and R. H. Harms, 1972. The influence of delactosed whey and supplemental
RESEARCH NOTES
biotin in turkey starter diets. Nutr. Rep. Intr. 5: 391-394. Eldred, A. R., B. L. Damron and R. H. Harms, 1974, Unpublished data. Florida Agr. Exp. Sta. Forbes, P. D. and Davies, R. E., 1972. Morphology of normal and abnormal plantar skin of turkey. Research Report. 1972. Temple University Health
1713
Sciences Center, Philadelphia, PA. Harms, R. H., 1974. Personal observation. Florida Agr. Exp. Sta. Robblee, A. R., and D. R. Clandinin, 1970. The role of biotin in the nutrition of turkey poults. Poultry Sci. 49: 976-981.
DIELDRIN DILUTION IN VISCERAL FAT OF FIELD-CONTAMINATED BROILERS G. F. COMBS, JR., R. N. BREWER, N. K. WILLIAMS AND R. W. RICHBURG
Department of Poultry Science, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36830 and Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries Pesticide Residue Laboratory, Auburn, Alabama 36830 (Received for publication April 1, 1975)
ABSTRACT Broilers aged 4, 5 and 6 weeks were selected from 8 commercial flocks which had been accidentally exposed to dieldrin in feeds. The birds were given a dieldrin-free ration and were reared to 10 weeks of age. Dieldrin residues in visceral fat were determined weekly. Results indicated that dieldrin residues are rapidly diluted in the growing chick with a half-time for dilution of approximately 12 days. POULTRY SCIENCE 54: 1713-1716, 1975
INTRODUCTION
A
CCIDENTAL pesticide contamination of broiler feeds has recently resulted in large numbers of unmarketable chickens containing body fat dieldrin 1 concentrations in excess of the U.S.D.A. administrative action level of 0.30 p.p.m. (McClund and Brown, 1974). The extent to which pesticide-contaminated broilers may be reduced to below action levels depends directly upon (a) the age at which contamination is detected, (b) the degree of pesticide contamination, (c) the rate of pesticide metabolism and elimination by the growing chicken and (d) the rate of residue dilution by the addition of new tissue during growth on pesticide-free diets. Decisions regarding the possibility of adequate reduction of pesticide residues in broiler flocks were made difficult due to the lack of information concerning dieldrin metabolism, excretion and dilution in the growing
1. Hexachloroepoxyoctahydrb-endo, exo-dimethanonapthalene, HEOD.
chicken. Thus, recommendations 2 were made by assuming that no metabolic mobilization of dieldrin occurred in the young chicken and that all reductions in dieldrin concentrations in body fat were resultant only of dilution during growth. They were, therefore, conservative extrapolations from standard broiler growth rates. Dietary management of pesticide residue depletion has been attempted in mature animals with limited success. Among the dietary treatments which have been reported to promote the depletion of chlorinated hydrocarbons are iodinated casein (Donaldson et al., 1971), choline and inositol (Creger and Kubena, 1971), selenium (Coon and Couch, 1973), diphenylhydantoin (Davies et al., 1971), and activated charcoal and phenobarbital (Wilson et al. 1968; Egebertson and Davison, 1971; Waibel et al., 1972). This study was conducted, therefore, to determine the effect of dieldrin withdrawal
2. Edgar, S. A., personal communications, 1974.
