Reassessment of riboflavin requirement for single comb white leghorn pullets from 0 to 6 weeks of age fed on maize‐soyabean meal diets and its subsequent effect on sexual maturity and egg production¹

Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, Journal Series No. R‐00221.

Abstract

1. Two experiments were conducted using a total of 228 Hyline W‐26 1‐d‐old pullets in each experiment. The purpose of the study was to reassess the riboflavin requirement from 0 to 6 weeks of age (WOA) and its subsequent effect on sexual maturity and egg production using a maize‐soyabean meal diet.

2. Approximately 10% incidence of curly toe paralysis was observed among birds fed on the diet with no added riboflavin (1.5 mg total riboflavin/kg diet).

3. Applying the non‐linear regression model to the body weight gain data at 3 and 6 WOA in both the experiments, it was found that the minimum total riboflavin required to acheive maximum body weight gain for the two age periods was 2.3 and 2.0 mg/kg of the total diet. This is equivalent to 5.0 and 5.7 μg riboflavin/g of body weight gain from 0 to 3 and 3 to 6 WOA respectively.

4. Birds fed on the diet containing no added (1.5 mg total/kg) riboflavin laid fewer eggs and had lower body weights at 24 weeks.

5. We conclude that, from 0 to 6 WOA, at least 2.3 mg total riboflavin/kg should be present in the diet to prevent curly toe paralysis, obtain the maximum body weight gain and sustain the subsequent performance at sexual maturity.

Notes

Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, Journal Series No. R‐00221.