Nutritional Deficiencies

24.2 NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES

Poultry generally grow very rapidly and have specific nutritional requirements. Due to their rapid growth, nutritional deficiencies usually become evident quickly. This occurs when poor quality ingredients have been used, when an error has occurred at the feed factory, or when the feed has been stored for more than one month in a hot warehouse and has lost its vitamins. (The quality of feed begins to deteriorate after only two weeks.) Nutritional deficiencies in poultry may affect fertility, hatchability, feathering, and growth. To avoid deficiencies, good quality feed ingredients, including a vitamin premix, should be properly mixed and fed before the feed loses its vitamins. It is therefore best to purchase from a reliable and honest feed mill operator who has access to high quality ingredients.