Inherited Riboflavin Deficiency in Chicken Eggs

Davis, Norris and Heuser (1938) found that the hens of certain families of Single Comb White Leghorns showed a high degree of consistency in respect to percent hatchability of their eggs when fed a ration deficient in riboflavin. Distinct lines, which differed in their resistance to a deficiency of riboflavin in the diet, were established by Lamoreux and Hutt (1948) and Lerner and Bird (1948). So far as the author is aware, no case has been found in which birds on a ration with an adequate amount of riboflavin produced eggs deficient in riboflavin. This report deals with such a condition. During March, 1952, three Single Comb White Leghorn hens, whose eggs were not hatching, were found in a pedigree breeding flock. On examination it was observed that the eggs were fertile but the embryos died during incubation. Since two of the birds were full sisters, and the third a …