Dietary biotin supplementation does not alleviate the development of footpad dermatitis in broiler chickens

Transcription

1 2012 Poultry Science Association, Inc. Dietary biotin supplementation does not alleviate the development of footpad dermatitis in broiler chickens Ö. Cengiz,* 1 J. B. Hess, and S. F. Bilgili * Department of Animal Nutrition and Nutritional Diseases, Veterinary Faculty, Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Turkey, 09016; and Department of Poultry Science, Auburn University, Auburn, AL Primary Audience: Broiler Producers, Service Personnel, Production Managers SUMMARY The effects of 4 levels of supplemental dietary biotin (0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 mg/kg) on live performance, and the incidence and severity of footpad dermatitis (FPD) were investigated in 2 experiments. In experiment 1, 600 one-day-old female broiler chicks were randomly distributed among 40 pens. Ten replicate pens were allotted to each of the 4 treatments, with 15 broilers per pen. In experiment 2, 1,440 one-day-old mixed-sex chicks were placed in 32 pens (45 chicks per pen), with 8 replications per treatment. Pen BW and feed consumption were measured at 21, 42, and 56 d of age in experiment 1 and at 15, 29, 43, and 57 d of age in experiment 2. Mortality was recorded twice daily and weighed to calculate the adjusted FCR in both experiments. In addition to live performance, FPD incidence and severity were evaluated at each of these time periods using a 3-point scale to document the progression of severity of lesions over time. Litter samples were also collected, pooled, and analyzed for moisture on d 1 and 57 in experiment 2. The live performance of broilers did not vary in experiment 2. Moreover, neither incidence nor severity of FPD was affected by dietary biotin supplementation. Litter moisture did not vary in experiment 2, but equaled or exceeded 35% in all treatments by d 57. No dietary biotin supplementation level resulted in the alleviation of FPD. It was concluded, based on these results, that dietary biotin supplementation is not an effective tool in preventing the development of FPD in broiler chickens. Key words: biotin, broiler, footpad dermatitis, live performance 2012 J. Appl. Poult. Res. 21 : DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM Biotin plays an essential role in both carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and can influence protein synthesis via its effects on the nature and rate of formation of RNA. Biotin is an important vitamin for animals and birds because it acts as a cofactor for various enzymes involved in carboxylation reactions [1]. The biotin requirement of chicks fed a purified diet was reported to be 0.15 mg/kg from 0 to 6 wk of age [2]. Deficiency symptoms associated with this vitamin 1 Corresponding author: ozcancen@gmail.com

2 Cengiz et al.: BIOTIN AND FOOTPAD DERMATITIS 765 have been observed as dermatitis of the plantar regions of the feet and some areas of the head, caused by a reduction in the activities of biotindependent enzymes [3, 4]. Footpad dermatitis (FPD) in poultry is characterized by the presence of erosive lesions, including hyperkeratinization and ulceration of the bottom of the foot, affecting both the metatarsal and digital pads [5]. With the implementation of Animal Welfare Audit programs, prevention of FPD in broiler chickens has become a priority for the broiler industry [6]. Patrick et al. [7], Harms and Simpson [8], and Whitehead and Bannister [9] reported ulcerated lesions and hyperkeratinization on the feet and shanks of broiler chicks fed biotin-deficient diets. Even though practical rations are usually considered adequate in biotin, several reports have indicated that biotin deficiency occurs in poultry fed commercialtype rations [10 12]. Whitehead and Bannister [9] demonstrated that broiler chicks fed biotin-deficient diets developed dermatitis lesions on the feet. Recently, Buda [13] reported that different biotin levels influenced the histological structure of the epidermis in turkey footpads, and that the requirement for biotin was influenced by the protein or fat level of the diets fed. Dermatitis lesions were more pronounced in chicks fed a high-protein diet. Harms and Simpson [12] reported a decreased severity of FPD in poults fed biotin-supplemented corn and soybean meal diets. These findings indicate that marginal biotin deficiency may be responsible for the development of FPD in poultry. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of graded levels of dietary biotin supplementation on the live performance of and the incidence and severity of FPD in broiler chickens. MATERIALS AND METHODS In experiment 1, a total of 600 one-day-old female Ross 708 broiler chicks were randomly divided into 4 treatments (0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 mg/ kg of biotin) with 10 replicate pens of 15 broilers per floor pen. In experiment 2, a total of 1,440 one-day-old mixed-sex broiler chicks (Ross 708) were randomly allotted to 32 replicate pens in a curtain-sided and fan-ventilated house. Approximately 8 cm of clean pine shavings was used as bedding over the concrete floors. There were 4 experimental treatments (45 birds of mixed sex/ pen and 8 replicate pens/treatment) similar to experiment 1. The nutrient composition of the basal diet is presented in Table 1. All birds were provided feeds in a 4-stage feeding program, which included starter (0 to 14 d), grower (15 to 28 d), finisher (29 to 42 d), and withdrawal (43 to 57 d) periods, respectively. Corn- and soybean meal-based diets were formulated to meet or exceed nutrient requirements [14] for 0- to 57-d-old broilers. Experimental diets were formulated to contain increasing concentrations of supplemental biotin (0.05, 0.1, 0.2, or 0.4 mg/kg) [15]. The calculated biotin levels for the basal diets were as follows: mg/kg (starter), mg/kg (grower), mg/ kg (finisher), and mg/kg (withdrawal). Each pen was supplied with hanging feeders and nipple drinkers to provide ad libitum access to feed and water, and lighting was provided on a 23L:1D schedule. Ventilation was controlled separately by chamber, with exhaust fans running 1 min on and 10 min off to 2 wk and 2 min on and 8 min off thereafter. From 2 to 3 wk of age, exhaust fans overrode the timer when the chamber temperature reached 29 C. After 3 wk of age, the temperature overrode the timed ventilation at 24 C. The research trial was conducted with the written approval of the Auburn University Animal Care and Use Committee. All birds were weighed on a per-pen basis. Feed conversion and mortality were determined at 21, 42, and 56 d of age in experiment 1 and at 15, 29, 43, and 57 d of age in experiment 2. The incidence and severity of FPD were recorded at each of these time periods by a visual ranking system [16]. Litter samples (per-pen basis) were collected (i.e., under the nipple drinkers, on the side of the feeders, and in the middle of the pen) at the beginning and end of the study (experiment 2), pooled by pen, and analyzed for moisture [17]. Data were subjected to ANOVA in a completely randomized design using the GLM procedure of SAS [18]. Data analysis was conducted following arcsine transformation. When significant (P < 0.05), treatment means were separated using Tukey s test.

3 766 JAPR: Research Report Table 1. Nutrient composition of the basal diet 1 Feeding stage Starter Grower Finisher Withdrawal Ingredient, % Corn Soybean meal (48% CP) Poultry fat Dicalcium phosphate Ground limestone Salt (NaCl) Vitamin premix Trace mineral premix dl-methionine l-lysine Coccidiostat Calculated composition, % CP ME, kcal/kg 3,100 3,122 3,150 3,191 Calcium Available phosphorus Lysine Methionine + cystine The starter diet was fed from d 0 to 14, the grower diet was fed from d 15 to 28, the finisher diet was fed from d 29 to 42, and the withdrawal diet was fed from d 43 to The vitamin premix supplied the following per kilogram of diet: vitamin A, 16,183 IU; vitamin D 3, 4,851 IU; vitamin E, 16.6 IU; vitamin B 12, 0.04 mg; riboflavin, 12 mg; biotin, 0.05 mg; niacin, 80 mg; pantothenic acid, 29 mg; choline, 1,102 mg; menadione, 4.8 mg; folic acid, 1.1 mg; pyridoxine, 4.4 mg; and thiamine, 2.2 mg. 3 The trace mineral premix supplied the following per kilogram of diet: manganese, 65 mg; zinc, 55 mg; iron, 55 mg; copper, 6 mg; iodine, 1 mg; and selenium, 0.3 mg. 4 Monensin sodium premix, Coban 90 (Elanco Animal Health, Indianapolis, IN). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The live performance results of broilers are presented in Tables 2 and 3. No significant association was observed between dietary biotin supplementation and live performance in either experiment (P > 0.05). The data for live performance are consistent with previous studies [19, 20] that suggested dietary supplementation with biotin had no significant effect on growth. In contrast, Wagstaff et al. [21] reported an increase in BW gain and a decrease in the incidence of FPD in broiler chickens when dietary biotin was supplemented to diets containing Table 2. Effects of graded dietary levels of biotin supplementation on broiler performance, experiment 1 d 21 d 42 d 56 BW, g AFCR 1 BW, g AFCR BW, g AFCR Mortality, % , , , , , , , , SEM P-value NS 3 NS NS NS NS NS NS 1 AFCR = FCR adjusted for mortality. 2 SEM = pooled SEM.

4 Cengiz et al.: BIOTIN AND FOOTPAD DERMATITIS 767 Table 3. Effects of graded dietary levels of biotin supplementation on broiler performance, experiment 2 d 1 to 14 d 1 to 28 d 1 to 42 d 1 to 56 BW, g AFCR 1 BW, g AFCR BW, g AFCR BW, g AFCR Mortality, % , , , , , , , , , , , , SEM P-value NS 3 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS 1 AFCR = FCR adjusted for mortality. 2 Pooled SEM. 75% wheat, barley, milo, or oats. The response to biotin may have been due to the lower bioavailability of biotin in diets based on wheat and barley compared with corn. Data for the incidence and severity of FPD are presented in Tables 4 and 5. Neither the incidence nor the severity of FPD was affected by dietary biotin supplementation (P > 0.05) in either experiment. Dietary biotin supplementation, regardless of level, did not alleviate FPD. Mc- Ginnis and Carver [19] and Chavez and Kratzer [20] observed FPD in poults fed a practical diet but were unable to prevent it with supplemental biotin. Other reports also indicated that dietary supplementation with biotin was not effective in alleviating the occurrence or severity of FPD lesions [22, 23]. The present data do not support the report by Buda [13] that very high dietary concentrations of biotin (1.818 mg/kg) resulted in a reduction in the severity of FPD in turkeys fed wheat- and soybean meal-based diets. A relationship may exist between biotin supplementation and litter quality. The extent of FPD prevalence is used to assess the bird welfare conditions and may also be used as an indicator of overall litter quality [6, 24]. For optimal litter quality, litter moisture levels of <30% are recommended [12, 25]. In the present study, litter moisture did not vary in experiment 2, but it equaled or exceeded 35% in all treatments by d 57. As suggested by Mayne et al. [23], when litter moisture levels are excessive, even very high intakes of dietary biotin are unable to prevent FPD. It is possible that high inclusion rates of supplemental biotin may accentuate the healing rate of FPD under improved litter conditions. In a study by Harms and Simpson [12], supplemental biotin minimized FPD scores when the Table 4. Effects of graded dietary levels of biotin supplementation on the incidence and severity of footpad dermatitis (%), experiment 1 1 d 21 d 42 d 56 None Mild Severe None Mild Severe None Mild Severe SEM P-value NS 3 NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS 1 None = no lesions present; mild = lesions <7.5 mm; severe = lesions >7.5 mm. 2 Pooled SEM.

5 768 JAPR: Research Report Table 5. Effects of graded dietary levels of biotin supplementation on the incidence and severity of footpad dermatitis (%) and litter moisture (%), experiment 2 1 Footpad dermatitis, % Litter moisture, % d 14 d 28 d 42 d 56 None Mild Severe None Mild Severe None Mild Severe None Mild Severe d 1 d SEM P-value NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS 1 None = no lesions present; mild = lesions <7.5 mm; severe = lesions >7.5 mm. 2 Pooled SEM. biotin was given to poults raised on dry litter but not the poults raised on wet litter. An interaction may exist between litter quality and dietary biotin inclusion. Jensen and Martinson [4] reported dermatitis of the footpad in turkey poults that was not related to a simple biotin deficiency but appeared to be related to factors in the feces of birds fed high levels of soybean meal. Further research is needed to understand the possible interactions between dietary biotin levels and the development of FPD in broiler chickens. CONCLUSIONS AND APPLICATIONS 1. Dietary biotin supplementation alone did not prevent the occurrence of FPD lesions in broiler chickens. 2. Further research is necessary to understand the interactions among contributing factors for an effective control program for FPD to be developed in broiler flocks. REFERENCES AND NOTES 1. Mistry, S. P., and K. Dakshinamurti Biochemistry of biotin. Vitam. Horm. 22: NRC Nutrient Requirements of Poultry. 9th rev. ed. Natl. Acad. Press, Washington, DC. 3. Dobson, D. C Biotin requirement of turkey poults. Poult. Sci. 49: Jensen, L. S., and R. Martinson Requirement of turkey poults for biotin and effect of deficiency on incidence of leg weakness in developing turkeys. Poult. Sci. 48: Greene, J. A., R. M. McCracken, and R. T. Evans A contact dermatitis of broilers Clinical and pathological findings. Avian Pathol. 14: National Chicken Council National Chicken Council Animal Welfare Guidelines and Audit Guidelines. Natl. Chicken Counc., Washington, DC. 7. Patrick, H., R. V. Boucher, R. A. Dutcher, and H. C. Knadel Prevention of perosis and dermatitis in turkey poults. J. Nutr. 26: Harms, R. H., and C. F. Simpson Biotin deficiency as a possible cause of swelling and ulceration of foot pads. Poult. Sci. 54: Whitehead, C. C., and D. W. Bannister Aspects of metabolism related to the occurrence of skin lesions in biotin-deficient chicks. Br. Poult. Sci. 22: Patrick, H., R. V. Boucher, R. A. Dutcher, and H. C. Knandel The nutritional significance of biotin in chick and poult nutrition. Poult. Sci. 21:476. (Abstr.) 11. Robblee, A. R., and D. R. Clandinin The use of calcium pantothenate and biotin in practical poult starters. Poult. Sci. 32:

6 Cengiz et al.: BIOTIN AND FOOTPAD DERMATITIS Harms, R. H., and C. F. Simpson Influence of wet litter and supplemental biotin on foot pad dermatitis in turkey poults. Poult. Sci. 56: Buda, S Foot pad lesions and the influence of biotin in turkeys. Pages in Proc. 3rd Int. Symp. on Turkey Dis., Berlin, Germany. 14. Aviagen Ross 708 Broiler Manual. Aviagen Group, Huntsville, AL. 15. DSM, Heerlen, the Netherlands. 16. Bilgili, S. F., M. A. Alley, J. B. Hess, and M. Nagaraj Influence of age and sex on foot pad quality and yield in broiler chickens reared on low and high density diets. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 15: Hoskins, B., A. Wolf, and N. Wolf Dry matter analysis. Pages 14 to 17 in Recommended Methods of Manure Analysis (A3769). Accessed Jan soils.wisc.edu/pubs/a3769.pdf. 18. SAS Institute SAS/STAT User s Guide for Personal Computers. Release 9.1. SAS Inst. Inc., Raleigh, NC. 19. McGinnis, J., and J. S. Carver The effect of riboflavin and biotin in prevention of dermatitis and perosis in turkey poults. Poult. Sci. 26: Chavez, E., and F. H. Kratzer Prevention of foot pad dermatitis in poults with methionine. Poult. Sci. 51: Wagstaff, R. K., D. C. Dobson, and J. O. Anderson Available biotin content of barley. Poult. Sci. 40: Atuahene, Y. O., P. E. Bernier, W. A. Roush, and G. H. Arscott Effect of biotin on dermatitis and hatchability in dwarf and normal size Single Comb White Leghorn layers. Poult. Sci. 63: Mayne, R. K., R. W. Else, and P. M. Hocking High dietary concentrations of biotin did not prevent foot pad dermatitis in growing turkeys and external scores were poor indicators of histopathological lesions. Br. Poult. Sci. 48: RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Welfare Standards for Chickens. RSPCA, Horsham, West Sussex, UK. 25. Mayne, R. K., R. W. Else, and P. M. Hocking High litter moisture alone is sufficient to cause footpad dermatitis in growing turkeys. Br. Poult. Sci. 48: