Induction, Prevention and Therapy of Biotin Deficiency in Turkey Poults on Semi-purified and Commercial-type Rations

INTRODUCTION IN THE early history of biotin evaluation as an essential vitamin for poultry, a deficiency state was induced by use of semi-purified and purified rations low in biotin with or without avidin added (McElroy and Jukes, 1940; Hegsted et al., 1940, 1942; Ansbacher and Landy, 1941; Patrick et al., 1941, 1944; Jukes and Almquist, 1942). The deficiency syndrome was characterized by exfoliative and/or exudative dermatitis of the toes, foot pads, shanks, beak and eyes. Even though practical commercial-type rations had been considered adequate in biotin, a number of isolated reports have appeared on biotin deficiency occurring in poultry fed commercial-type rations (Patrick et al., 1942; McGinnis and Carver, 1947; and Robblee and Clandinin, 1953). They concluded that a practical ration may need supplemental biotin to prevent the deficiency syndrome. Dunkelgod et al. (1959) observed a deficiency in turkey poults fed a high energy diet which responded to supplemental biotin. . .