291
RICKETS IN A DWARF STRAIN
and R. H. Harms, 1965. Studies on the vitamin D 3 requirement of the broiler chick. Poultry Sci. 44: 543-548.
Wilgus, H. S., Jr., 1931. The quantitative requirement of the growing chick for calcium and phosphorus. Poultry Sci. 10: 107-117.
Effect of Wet Litter and Supplemental Biotin and/or Whey on the Production of Foot Pad Dermatitis in Broilers! R.
H.
HARMS, B. L.
DAMRON AND C.
F.
SIMPSON
Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, Gainesville, Florida 32611
ABSTRACT An experiment was conducted to determine whether increasing the moisture content of the litter would increase foot pad dermatitis in broilers, and to determine whether supplemental biotin or dried whey would affect this condition. Broilers grown on wet litter had significantly increased incidence of foot pad dermatitis. The addition of 3% of partially delactosed whey to the diet resulted in increasing the foot pad dermatitis. The addition of biotin decreased foot pad dermatitis. Examination of foot pad tissue indicated that the birds receiving the control diet were deficient in biotin. POULTRY SCIENCE 56: 291-296, 1977
INTRODUCTION
P
ATRICK et al. (1942) reported that the feeding of a diet deficient in biotin to turkey poults or chicks produced a dermatitis of the foot pad. This finding appeared to have little practical application until typical biotin deficiencies were diagnosed in commercial turkey flocks (Richardson and Wilgus, 1967; and Johnson, 1967). These findings stimulated a renewed interest in studying the relationship of biotin to foot pad dermatitis in turkey poults. Jensen and Martinson (1969) confirmed that biotin deficiency with turkey poults resulted in a severe dermatitis on the feet and head region. However, biotin supplementation did not totally correct this condition. In a later study, Jensen et al. (1970) found that little or no dermatitis was observed with poults fed a casein-gelatin-corn diet. An increased incidence of dermatitis was associated with increasing levels of soybean meal in the diet. However, the
1. Florida Agr. Exp. Sta. Journal Series No. 8094.
condition was not produced by substituting isolated soybean protein for casein and gelatin, indicating that the protein portion of the soybean meal was not the responsible ingredient. Abbott et al. (1969) reported that the incidence of foot pad dermatitis is reduced with proper litter management. These workers found that when the litter was damp, and/or crusty, foot pad dermatitis was increased. Chavez and Kratzer (1972) reported that the addition of extra methionine to the diet will reduce the incidence of foot pad dermatitis when poults are fed a diet containing isolated soybean protein or soybean meal. In a later study these workers (Chavez and Kratzer, 1974) found that methionine was more effective in reducing the foot pad dermatitis than metabolic precursors of methionine such as homocystine and betaine or methionine hydroxy analogue. Harms and Simpson (1975) found a high incidence of foot pad dermatitis associated with breast blisters in broilers. Histological examination of foot pads indicated there were
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Kainan University on May 15, 2015
(Received for publication July 12, 1976)
292
R. H. HARMS, B. L. DAMRON AND C. F. SIMPSON
MATERIALS AND METHODS A 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was used in this study. Two diets were used (Table 1). A corn soy basal calculated to contain 23% protein, 1% calcium, 0.8% total phosphorus and 3,177 kilocalories of metabolizable energy per kilogram of diet was used. A second diet, using 3% partially delactosed whey was calculated to contain the same level of nutrients as the basal. Each of these diets was fed with and without 200 TABLE 1.—Composition of diets Ingredients
Basal +Whey
Yellow corn Soybean meal (50% protein) Alfalfa meal (20% protein) Ground limestone Dicalcium phosphate (18.5% P & 24% Ca) Iodized s It Vitamin premix' Animal fat D-I. Methionine Amprolieum (25%) Partially delactosed Whey
51.02 35.33 3.00 .97
49.11 34.55 3.00 .80
2.11 .40 .50 6.50 .12 .05
2.00 .29 .50 6.60 .10 .05 3.00
1
—
Supplied the following activities per kilgram of diet: Vitamin A, 66001.U.; vitamin D3,22001.C.U.; menadione dimethylpyrimidinol bisulfite, 2.2 mg.; riboflavin, 4.4 mg.; pantothenic acid, 13.2 mg.; niacin, 39.6 mg.; choline chloride, 499.4 mg.; vitamin B l 2 , 22 meg.; ethoxyquin, 0.0125%; manganese, 60 mg.; iron, 50 mg.; copper, 6 mg.; cobalt, 0.0J98 mg.; iodine, 1.1 mg.; zinc, 35 mg.
mg. of supplemental biotin per ton. Birds fed each of the four diets were grown on either wet or dry litter. The wet litter was produced by adding water to the litter beginning when birds were one week of age. Four replicate pens of males and four replicate pens of females, each containing 16 birds, were grown in each treatment. Each pen of birds were grown in a floor pen with 2.32 sq. meters of floor space. All pens were identical in shape and construction and contained one cylindrical hanging feeder, one bell-type automatic water fountain and an infrared heat lamp for brooding. Peanut hulls were used as litter. All birds were group weighed at eight weeks of age and feed consumption determined. At this time, two males were sacrificed from two pens on each of four treatments. These treatments included the diet containing whey with and without supplemental biotin and grown on either wet or dry litter. The skin of the feet was removed from these birds and prepared for histological study. Pieces of skin were fixed in 10% neutral formalin, embedded in paraffin and 6 p.. sections were stained with hematoxyline and eosin stain. The foot pads of all birds were scored for presence of gross lesions. This scoring was accomplished by first dipping the feet in a bucket of water and removing all adhering feces from the foot pad. Scoring was made on a numerical basis ranging from 1 to 3. One indicated no lesions and three indicated the presence of severe lesions. Each score was also rated plus or minus resulting in eight ratings. The data were subjected to analysis of variance and statements of probability are based on this analysis. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Broilers grown on damp litter had a significant increase in severity of foot pad dermatitis (Table 2 and 3). The addition of partially
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Kainan University on May 15, 2015
changes similar to those previously found when broilers were fed a biotin deficient diet (Forbes and Davis, 1972). Harms and Simpson (1975) also observed that broilers in pens with damp litter appeared to have more foot pad dermatitis than those in pens with dry litter. Therefore, the studies reported herein were conducted to determine whether increasing the moisture content of the litter would increase the incidence of foot pad dermatitis and whether supplemental biotin would reduce the severity of this condition. Diets were fed with and without supplemental dried whey since a biotin and whey interaction had been previously reported (Damron et al., 1971).
293
BIOTIN, WET LITTER & FOOT PAD DERMATITIS
TABLE 2.—Foot pad lesion scores of broilers fed diets with or without supplemental biotin or whey and grown on wet or dry litter Wet Biotin1 +
Sex M
+ av. +
F
+ + av. +
L98 1.90 2.56 2.13 2.19 2.19 2.17 2.60 2.55 2.38 2.06 2.46
Both Both Both Both + Both Av. Av. 2.26 1.22 1 Indicates 200 mg. supplemental biotin per ton diet. 2 Indicates 3% whey in diet. 3 Scoring made on the folowing basis: 1 = No lesion; 2 = presence of lesion; and lesion: Each score was also rated plus or minus resulting in nine ratings.
Av.
1.67
1.81 1.63 1.85 1.79 • 1.69
3 = severe
cant. This was a result of the whey increasing the severity of the lesions more on wet litter than on dry litter. Females had a higher lesion score than did males. Also, the litter x sex interaction was statistically significant. This was a result of the wet litter increasing the foot pad lesions more with females than with males, and essentially the same score on dry litter was observed for both sexes. TABLE 3.—Percentage of broilers with foot pad Foot pad lesions were graded microscopilesions when fed diets with or without supplemental biotin or whey and grown on wet or cally. The most advanced lesion was observed dry litter in birds fed a diet containing whey, no biotin, and maintained on wet litter. In all of these Litter Wet Dry birds, there were extensive areas of ulceration Whey 2 (% Broilers w./lesions) Biotin' (Fig. 1), and diffuse accumulation of hetero70.4 14.5 phils had invaded deep into the dermis. 66.4 15.3 Equally severe foot pad lesions were seen 91.2 20.2 in birds fed a diet containing biotin and whey, 83.2 4.8 1 and maintained on wet litter. All of these Indicates 200 mg. supplemental biotin per ton diet. birds had extensive ulceration of the foot indicates 3% whey in diet. pads (Fig. 2), and diffuse accumulations of 'Scoring made on the following basis: 1 = No lesion; 2 = presence of lesion; and 3 = severe heterophils, as well as infrequent lympholesion. Each score was also rated plus or minus cytes, were seen in the deep dermis. Chickens resulting in nine ratings. 1 + 1 +
+ + I I
delactosed whey also resulted in numerically increasing foot pad lesion scores. The addition of biotin to the diet resulted in numerically lowering foot pad lesion scores. This reduction in lesion scores was essentially the same in the presence or absence of whey and no interaction was observed. The whey x litter interaction was statistically signifi-
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Kainan University on May 15, 2015
+ av.
Whey2 + + av.
Litter Dry (Foot pad score3) ill 1.12 1.26 1.25 1.19 1.25 1.33 1.38 1.06 1.26 1.20 1.24
R. H. HARMS, B. L. DAMRON AND C. F. SIMPSON
FIG. 2. Photomicrograph of foot pad lesion from a broiler grown on wet litter and fed a diet containing added biotin. There is ulceration and infiltration of the deep dermis by heterophils. H.& E stain. x 16.
fed whey, no biotin, and maintained on dry litter had relatively minor histologic alterations of the foot pads. There was necrosis of small portions of the stratum corneum, and infiltration of small areas of the stratum spinosum and superficial dermis with heterophils (Fig. 3). The dermal papillae were elongated and small blood vessels therein were congested. The least severely affected foot pad lesion, as determined by histology, was seen in chickens fed biotin and whey, and maintained on dry litter. There was necrosis of the superficial portion of the stratum corneum, edema fluid in cells of the deep stratum corneum, and infiltration of the superficial aspects of the stratum spinosum by
heterophils (Fig. 4). Dermal papillae were elongated, and usually the blood vessels therein were congested. These data indicate that a high incidence of foot pad lesions can be produced in broilers by increasing the moisture content of the litter. The addition of dried whey to the diet significantly increased these lesion scores. It is possible that the addition of whey could have increased the moisture content of the litter. However, sufficient water was added. therefore this should not have been the cause. It had previously been reported (Damron et al.. 1971) that the addition of whey to the diet of four week old chickens resulted in a growth response when the diet was supple-
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Kainan University on May 15, 2015
FIG. 1. Photomicrograph of foot pad lesion from a broiler grown on wet litter and fed a diet with no added biotin. There is extensive ulceration and diffuse infiltration of the deep dermis by heterophils. H & E stain, x 16
295
BIOTIN, W E T LITTER & FOOT PAD DERMATITIS
FIG. 4. Photomicrograph of foot pad lesion from a broiler grown on dry litter and fed a diet containing added biotin. There is necrosis and edema of the stratum corneum. and mild infiltration of the stratum spinosum by heterophils. Dermal papillae are elongated. H & E stain, x 16.
mented with biotin. Biotin supplementation also gave a growth response when the diet contained w h e y . W h e n either was added alone, no response was obtained. This interaction suggested a possible interrelation-
ship for the two supplements. H o w e v e r , in this study, the interaction of biotin and w h e y w a s not significant, and neither influenced growth or feed efficiency (Table 4). T h e addition of biotin to the diet resulted
TABLE 4.—Body weight and feed efficiency of broilers fed diets with/without and grown on wet and dry hulls
Treat ment Biotin1 Whey 2 1 + 1 +
+ +
and/or biotin and whey
Wet
Body weight gms. Litter Dry
Av.
Wet
Feed efficiency Dry
Av.
1966 1978 1978 1942
1948 1960 1978 1938
1957 1969 1978 1940
2.05 2.06 2.07 2.01
2.03 2.09 2.07 2.10
2.04 2.07 2.07 2.06
1 + indicates 200 mg. supplemental biotin/ton. -+ indicates 3% whey in diet.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Kainan University on May 15, 2015
FIG. 3. Photomicrograph of foot pad lesion from a broiler grown on dry litter and fed a diet containing no added biotin. There is necrosis of the stratum corneum and infiltration of the remainder of the epidermis with heterophils. H & E stain, x 16.
296
R. H. HARMS, B. L. DAMRON AND C. F. SIMPSON
in lowering foot pad lesion scores (Table 2) and tissue damage was less severe as determined by histological examination (Figs. 3 and 4). This indicated that the diets were slightly marginal in biotin; however, the addition of biotin did not prevent the condition. This finding would agree with a previous report with poults (Jensen et al., 1970) where a foot pad dermatitis was produced and was not totally corrected by the addition of biotin to the diet. These findings with the chick along with previous findings with the poult that the foot pad dermatitis may be caused by two or more factors. However, it is evident that one of the factors involved in the foot pad dermatitis is biotin. These data would indicate that supplemental biotin is needed in the diet of broiler chicks to reduce this condition. REFERENCES Abbott, W. W., J. R. Couch and R. L. Atkinson, 1969. The incidence of foot pad dermatitis in young turkeys fed high levels of soybean meal. Poultry Sci. 48: 2186-2188. Chavez, E., and F. H. Kratzer, 1972. Prevention of foot pad dermatitis in poults with methionine.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Kainan University on May 15, 2015
(Jensen and Martinson, 1969) would indicate
Poultry Sci. 51: 1545-1548. Chavez, E., and F. H. Kratzer, 1974. Effect of diet on foot pad dermatitis in poults. Poultry Sci. 53: 753-760. Damron, B. L., D. P. Eberstand R. H. Harms, 1971. The influence of partially delactosed whey, fish meal and supplemental biotin in broiler diets. Poultry Sci. 50: 1768-1771. Forbes, P. D., and R. E. Davis, 1972. Morphology of normal and abnormal plantar skin of turkeys. Research Report 1972. Temple Univ. Health Sciences Center, Philadelphia, PA. Harms, R. H. and C. F. Simpson, 1975. Biotin deficiency as a possible cause of swelling and ulceration of foot pads. Poultry Sci. 54: 1711-1713. Jensen, L. S., and R. Martinson, 1969. Requirement of turkey poults for biotin and effect of deficiency on incidence of leg weakness in developing turkeys. Poultry Sci. 48: 222-230. Jensen, L. S., R. Martinson and G. Schumaur, 1970. A foot pad dermatitis in turkey poults associated with soybean meal. Poultry Sci. 49: 76-82. Johnson, C. W., 1967. Field evaluation of d-biotin supplementation for biotin deficient turkey poults and older turkeys. Poultry Sci. 46: 1276. Patrick, H., R. V. Boucher, R. A. Butcher and H. C. Knandel, 1942. The nutritional significance of biotin in chick and poultry nutrition. Poultry Sci. 21:476. Richardson, C. E., and H. S. Wilgus, 1967. Biotin—a limiting factor in turkey rations? Feedstuffs, August 12: pp. 52-54.
RICKETS IN A DWARF STRAIN
and R. H. Harms, 1965. Studies on the vitamin D 3 requirement of the broiler chick. Poultry Sci. 44: 543-548.
Wilgus, H. S., Jr., 1931. The quantitative requirement of the growing chick for calcium and phosphorus. Poultry Sci. 10: 107-117.
Effect of Wet Litter and Supplemental Biotin and/or Whey on the Production of Foot Pad Dermatitis in Broilers! R.
H.
HARMS, B. L.
DAMRON AND C.
F.
SIMPSON
Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, Gainesville, Florida 32611
ABSTRACT An experiment was conducted to determine whether increasing the moisture content of the litter would increase foot pad dermatitis in broilers, and to determine whether supplemental biotin or dried whey would affect this condition. Broilers grown on wet litter had significantly increased incidence of foot pad dermatitis. The addition of 3% of partially delactosed whey to the diet resulted in increasing the foot pad dermatitis. The addition of biotin decreased foot pad dermatitis. Examination of foot pad tissue indicated that the birds receiving the control diet were deficient in biotin. POULTRY SCIENCE 56: 291-296, 1977
INTRODUCTION
P
ATRICK et al. (1942) reported that the feeding of a diet deficient in biotin to turkey poults or chicks produced a dermatitis of the foot pad. This finding appeared to have little practical application until typical biotin deficiencies were diagnosed in commercial turkey flocks (Richardson and Wilgus, 1967; and Johnson, 1967). These findings stimulated a renewed interest in studying the relationship of biotin to foot pad dermatitis in turkey poults. Jensen and Martinson (1969) confirmed that biotin deficiency with turkey poults resulted in a severe dermatitis on the feet and head region. However, biotin supplementation did not totally correct this condition. In a later study, Jensen et al. (1970) found that little or no dermatitis was observed with poults fed a casein-gelatin-corn diet. An increased incidence of dermatitis was associated with increasing levels of soybean meal in the diet. However, the
1. Florida Agr. Exp. Sta. Journal Series No. 8094.
condition was not produced by substituting isolated soybean protein for casein and gelatin, indicating that the protein portion of the soybean meal was not the responsible ingredient. Abbott et al. (1969) reported that the incidence of foot pad dermatitis is reduced with proper litter management. These workers found that when the litter was damp, and/or crusty, foot pad dermatitis was increased. Chavez and Kratzer (1972) reported that the addition of extra methionine to the diet will reduce the incidence of foot pad dermatitis when poults are fed a diet containing isolated soybean protein or soybean meal. In a later study these workers (Chavez and Kratzer, 1974) found that methionine was more effective in reducing the foot pad dermatitis than metabolic precursors of methionine such as homocystine and betaine or methionine hydroxy analogue. Harms and Simpson (1975) found a high incidence of foot pad dermatitis associated with breast blisters in broilers. Histological examination of foot pads indicated there were
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Kainan University on May 15, 2015
(Received for publication July 12, 1976)
292
R. H. HARMS, B. L. DAMRON AND C. F. SIMPSON
MATERIALS AND METHODS A 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was used in this study. Two diets were used (Table 1). A corn soy basal calculated to contain 23% protein, 1% calcium, 0.8% total phosphorus and 3,177 kilocalories of metabolizable energy per kilogram of diet was used. A second diet, using 3% partially delactosed whey was calculated to contain the same level of nutrients as the basal. Each of these diets was fed with and without 200 TABLE 1.—Composition of diets Ingredients
Basal +Whey
Yellow corn Soybean meal (50% protein) Alfalfa meal (20% protein) Ground limestone Dicalcium phosphate (18.5% P & 24% Ca) Iodized s It Vitamin premix' Animal fat D-I. Methionine Amprolieum (25%) Partially delactosed Whey
51.02 35.33 3.00 .97
49.11 34.55 3.00 .80
2.11 .40 .50 6.50 .12 .05
2.00 .29 .50 6.60 .10 .05 3.00
1
—
Supplied the following activities per kilgram of diet: Vitamin A, 66001.U.; vitamin D3,22001.C.U.; menadione dimethylpyrimidinol bisulfite, 2.2 mg.; riboflavin, 4.4 mg.; pantothenic acid, 13.2 mg.; niacin, 39.6 mg.; choline chloride, 499.4 mg.; vitamin B l 2 , 22 meg.; ethoxyquin, 0.0125%; manganese, 60 mg.; iron, 50 mg.; copper, 6 mg.; cobalt, 0.0J98 mg.; iodine, 1.1 mg.; zinc, 35 mg.
mg. of supplemental biotin per ton. Birds fed each of the four diets were grown on either wet or dry litter. The wet litter was produced by adding water to the litter beginning when birds were one week of age. Four replicate pens of males and four replicate pens of females, each containing 16 birds, were grown in each treatment. Each pen of birds were grown in a floor pen with 2.32 sq. meters of floor space. All pens were identical in shape and construction and contained one cylindrical hanging feeder, one bell-type automatic water fountain and an infrared heat lamp for brooding. Peanut hulls were used as litter. All birds were group weighed at eight weeks of age and feed consumption determined. At this time, two males were sacrificed from two pens on each of four treatments. These treatments included the diet containing whey with and without supplemental biotin and grown on either wet or dry litter. The skin of the feet was removed from these birds and prepared for histological study. Pieces of skin were fixed in 10% neutral formalin, embedded in paraffin and 6 p.. sections were stained with hematoxyline and eosin stain. The foot pads of all birds were scored for presence of gross lesions. This scoring was accomplished by first dipping the feet in a bucket of water and removing all adhering feces from the foot pad. Scoring was made on a numerical basis ranging from 1 to 3. One indicated no lesions and three indicated the presence of severe lesions. Each score was also rated plus or minus resulting in eight ratings. The data were subjected to analysis of variance and statements of probability are based on this analysis. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Broilers grown on damp litter had a significant increase in severity of foot pad dermatitis (Table 2 and 3). The addition of partially
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Kainan University on May 15, 2015
changes similar to those previously found when broilers were fed a biotin deficient diet (Forbes and Davis, 1972). Harms and Simpson (1975) also observed that broilers in pens with damp litter appeared to have more foot pad dermatitis than those in pens with dry litter. Therefore, the studies reported herein were conducted to determine whether increasing the moisture content of the litter would increase the incidence of foot pad dermatitis and whether supplemental biotin would reduce the severity of this condition. Diets were fed with and without supplemental dried whey since a biotin and whey interaction had been previously reported (Damron et al., 1971).
293
BIOTIN, WET LITTER & FOOT PAD DERMATITIS
TABLE 2.—Foot pad lesion scores of broilers fed diets with or without supplemental biotin or whey and grown on wet or dry litter Wet Biotin1 +
Sex M
+ av. +
F
+ + av. +
L98 1.90 2.56 2.13 2.19 2.19 2.17 2.60 2.55 2.38 2.06 2.46
Both Both Both Both + Both Av. Av. 2.26 1.22 1 Indicates 200 mg. supplemental biotin per ton diet. 2 Indicates 3% whey in diet. 3 Scoring made on the folowing basis: 1 = No lesion; 2 = presence of lesion; and lesion: Each score was also rated plus or minus resulting in nine ratings.
Av.
1.67
1.81 1.63 1.85 1.79 • 1.69
3 = severe
cant. This was a result of the whey increasing the severity of the lesions more on wet litter than on dry litter. Females had a higher lesion score than did males. Also, the litter x sex interaction was statistically significant. This was a result of the wet litter increasing the foot pad lesions more with females than with males, and essentially the same score on dry litter was observed for both sexes. TABLE 3.—Percentage of broilers with foot pad Foot pad lesions were graded microscopilesions when fed diets with or without supplemental biotin or whey and grown on wet or cally. The most advanced lesion was observed dry litter in birds fed a diet containing whey, no biotin, and maintained on wet litter. In all of these Litter Wet Dry birds, there were extensive areas of ulceration Whey 2 (% Broilers w./lesions) Biotin' (Fig. 1), and diffuse accumulation of hetero70.4 14.5 phils had invaded deep into the dermis. 66.4 15.3 Equally severe foot pad lesions were seen 91.2 20.2 in birds fed a diet containing biotin and whey, 83.2 4.8 1 and maintained on wet litter. All of these Indicates 200 mg. supplemental biotin per ton diet. birds had extensive ulceration of the foot indicates 3% whey in diet. pads (Fig. 2), and diffuse accumulations of 'Scoring made on the following basis: 1 = No lesion; 2 = presence of lesion; and 3 = severe heterophils, as well as infrequent lympholesion. Each score was also rated plus or minus cytes, were seen in the deep dermis. Chickens resulting in nine ratings. 1 + 1 +
+ + I I
delactosed whey also resulted in numerically increasing foot pad lesion scores. The addition of biotin to the diet resulted in numerically lowering foot pad lesion scores. This reduction in lesion scores was essentially the same in the presence or absence of whey and no interaction was observed. The whey x litter interaction was statistically signifi-
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Kainan University on May 15, 2015
+ av.
Whey2 + + av.
Litter Dry (Foot pad score3) ill 1.12 1.26 1.25 1.19 1.25 1.33 1.38 1.06 1.26 1.20 1.24
R. H. HARMS, B. L. DAMRON AND C. F. SIMPSON
FIG. 2. Photomicrograph of foot pad lesion from a broiler grown on wet litter and fed a diet containing added biotin. There is ulceration and infiltration of the deep dermis by heterophils. H.& E stain. x 16.
fed whey, no biotin, and maintained on dry litter had relatively minor histologic alterations of the foot pads. There was necrosis of small portions of the stratum corneum, and infiltration of small areas of the stratum spinosum and superficial dermis with heterophils (Fig. 3). The dermal papillae were elongated and small blood vessels therein were congested. The least severely affected foot pad lesion, as determined by histology, was seen in chickens fed biotin and whey, and maintained on dry litter. There was necrosis of the superficial portion of the stratum corneum, edema fluid in cells of the deep stratum corneum, and infiltration of the superficial aspects of the stratum spinosum by
heterophils (Fig. 4). Dermal papillae were elongated, and usually the blood vessels therein were congested. These data indicate that a high incidence of foot pad lesions can be produced in broilers by increasing the moisture content of the litter. The addition of dried whey to the diet significantly increased these lesion scores. It is possible that the addition of whey could have increased the moisture content of the litter. However, sufficient water was added. therefore this should not have been the cause. It had previously been reported (Damron et al.. 1971) that the addition of whey to the diet of four week old chickens resulted in a growth response when the diet was supple-
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Kainan University on May 15, 2015
FIG. 1. Photomicrograph of foot pad lesion from a broiler grown on wet litter and fed a diet with no added biotin. There is extensive ulceration and diffuse infiltration of the deep dermis by heterophils. H & E stain, x 16
295
BIOTIN, W E T LITTER & FOOT PAD DERMATITIS
FIG. 4. Photomicrograph of foot pad lesion from a broiler grown on dry litter and fed a diet containing added biotin. There is necrosis and edema of the stratum corneum. and mild infiltration of the stratum spinosum by heterophils. Dermal papillae are elongated. H & E stain, x 16.
mented with biotin. Biotin supplementation also gave a growth response when the diet contained w h e y . W h e n either was added alone, no response was obtained. This interaction suggested a possible interrelation-
ship for the two supplements. H o w e v e r , in this study, the interaction of biotin and w h e y w a s not significant, and neither influenced growth or feed efficiency (Table 4). T h e addition of biotin to the diet resulted
TABLE 4.—Body weight and feed efficiency of broilers fed diets with/without and grown on wet and dry hulls
Treat ment Biotin1 Whey 2 1 + 1 +
+ +
and/or biotin and whey
Wet
Body weight gms. Litter Dry
Av.
Wet
Feed efficiency Dry
Av.
1966 1978 1978 1942
1948 1960 1978 1938
1957 1969 1978 1940
2.05 2.06 2.07 2.01
2.03 2.09 2.07 2.10
2.04 2.07 2.07 2.06
1 + indicates 200 mg. supplemental biotin/ton. -+ indicates 3% whey in diet.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Kainan University on May 15, 2015
FIG. 3. Photomicrograph of foot pad lesion from a broiler grown on dry litter and fed a diet containing no added biotin. There is necrosis of the stratum corneum and infiltration of the remainder of the epidermis with heterophils. H & E stain, x 16.
296
R. H. HARMS, B. L. DAMRON AND C. F. SIMPSON
in lowering foot pad lesion scores (Table 2) and tissue damage was less severe as determined by histological examination (Figs. 3 and 4). This indicated that the diets were slightly marginal in biotin; however, the addition of biotin did not prevent the condition. This finding would agree with a previous report with poults (Jensen et al., 1970) where a foot pad dermatitis was produced and was not totally corrected by the addition of biotin to the diet. These findings with the chick along with previous findings with the poult that the foot pad dermatitis may be caused by two or more factors. However, it is evident that one of the factors involved in the foot pad dermatitis is biotin. These data would indicate that supplemental biotin is needed in the diet of broiler chicks to reduce this condition. REFERENCES Abbott, W. W., J. R. Couch and R. L. Atkinson, 1969. The incidence of foot pad dermatitis in young turkeys fed high levels of soybean meal. Poultry Sci. 48: 2186-2188. Chavez, E., and F. H. Kratzer, 1972. Prevention of foot pad dermatitis in poults with methionine.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Kainan University on May 15, 2015
(Jensen and Martinson, 1969) would indicate
Poultry Sci. 51: 1545-1548. Chavez, E., and F. H. Kratzer, 1974. Effect of diet on foot pad dermatitis in poults. Poultry Sci. 53: 753-760. Damron, B. L., D. P. Eberstand R. H. Harms, 1971. The influence of partially delactosed whey, fish meal and supplemental biotin in broiler diets. Poultry Sci. 50: 1768-1771. Forbes, P. D., and R. E. Davis, 1972. Morphology of normal and abnormal plantar skin of turkeys. Research Report 1972. Temple Univ. Health Sciences Center, Philadelphia, PA. Harms, R. H. and C. F. Simpson, 1975. Biotin deficiency as a possible cause of swelling and ulceration of foot pads. Poultry Sci. 54: 1711-1713. Jensen, L. S., and R. Martinson, 1969. Requirement of turkey poults for biotin and effect of deficiency on incidence of leg weakness in developing turkeys. Poultry Sci. 48: 222-230. Jensen, L. S., R. Martinson and G. Schumaur, 1970. A foot pad dermatitis in turkey poults associated with soybean meal. Poultry Sci. 49: 76-82. Johnson, C. W., 1967. Field evaluation of d-biotin supplementation for biotin deficient turkey poults and older turkeys. Poultry Sci. 46: 1276. Patrick, H., R. V. Boucher, R. A. Butcher and H. C. Knandel, 1942. The nutritional significance of biotin in chick and poultry nutrition. Poultry Sci. 21:476. Richardson, C. E., and H. S. Wilgus, 1967. Biotin—a limiting factor in turkey rations? Feedstuffs, August 12: pp. 52-54.
