Prevention of Perosis in Goslings by Nicotinic Acid

It has become evident that nicotinic acid is an important factor in the prevention of “hock disorder” in certain species of birds. Scott et al. (1952a, b) have shown that nicotinic acid and dried brewers’ yeast were effective in the prevention of “hock disorder” in turkey poults and “bowed legs” in ducks. Briggs et al. (1953) have shown that with a purified diet, nicotinic acid was needed in the nutrition of the gosling. At the Minnesota station, it has been the practice to feed goslings the station’s standard chick starting ration. It has been observed, however, that goslings fed this ration frequently develop hock disorder when brooded either in batteries or on litter. Upon post-mortem examination of the goslings, it was observed that the tendon of the tibia had actually slipped out of the condyle. For this reason, the authors feel justified in calling this condition perosis. The basal diet …