THE REALITIES ABOUT POULTRY The Modern Farm - The Realities About Poultry_Seco | Page 109

The table below shows Sources, functions and symptoms of deficiency of vitamins
Vitamin
Source
Vitamin A
Green leaf material
Function
Vision,
Symptoms of deficiency
growth Young birds - Listlessness, ruffled
reproduction, maintenance plumage, pale combs, wattles, beaks
of
mucous
growth
of
membranes, and shanks. Pustules in nasal passage,
cartilage
bones.
in mouth; lameness.
Adult birds - Decreased production
and
hatchability
of
eggs.
Watery
discharge from nostrils and eyes.
Pustules in nasal passage and mouth.
Emaciation and weakness.
Vitamin D
Synthesized by the Necessary for absorption Young birds - Rickets (leg weakness),
bird by the action of calcium in the diet.
of light on the General
skin. metabolism
Fish liver oils maintenance
soft beaks and claws. Poor growth.
calcium Adult birds - Decreased production
and and hatchability of eggs. Soft-shelled
of
bone eggs. Fragile bones.
structure.
Vitamin E
Cereals, vegetable A wide range of biological Young birds – Poor coordination,
oils
functions.
unsteady gait “crazy chick disease”
(rapid contraction and relaxation of
head and leg muscles).
Adult birds - Reduced hatchability of
eggs. Degeneration of testes in males.
Vitamin K
Green leaf material
Required for blood
Young and adult birds - Increased
bruising and bleeding.
Vitamin
B 1 Cereal grains, soya A wide range of biological Young and adult birds - Decreased
(Thiamine)
bean meal
functions.
appetite and weight loss. Leg weakness
and muscle paralysis. “Stargazing”
(head
retracted
and
legs
thrust
forward).
Vitamin
B 2 Green plants, yeast Essential for growth and Young birds - Poor growth. Toes
(Riboflavin)
eggs, milk
tissue repair.
curled inwards, clubbed down. Adult
birds - Decreased hatchability of eggs.
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