B-Vitamin Deficiency in the Mature Turkey Hen

Abstract

THE nutritional requirements for B-vitamins in the diet of the turkey hen have not been studied extensively. Much of the vitamin information used in formulating turkey breeder diets is based on studies with the laying chicken requirements for egg production and hatchability, on poult requirements for growth, or upon results with apparently adequate practical rations.Boucher et al. (1941) found that riboflavin had no influence on body weight, egg production, fertility or mortality. Hatch-ability dropped to zero when the ration contained 155 μg. per 100 gm. ration but reached a maximum as riboflavin reached approximately 300 μg. per 100 gm. diet. Boucher et al. (1942) reported that riboflavin was required for hatchability in turkeys and that the embryonic mortality peak approached the first part of the incubation period as the deficiency in hens became more severe. The investigators used an all-mash ration containing 100 μg. riboflavin per 100 gm. of…