Riboflavin, Niacin, Pyridoxine and Pantothenic Acid in Animals
Riboflavin, Niacin, Pyridoxine and Pantothenic Acid in Animals are essential nutrients.
Riboflavin
- Riboflavin needs for cellular oxidative mechanism.
- It is available in freshly growing plants, animal protein and synthesized in GI tract by microbes.
- Riboflavin deficiency mostly noticed in pigs and calves are rearing under confined rearing system.
- Daily requirement of riboflavin in pigs is 60 µg/ kg body weight or 2-3 g ton of feed.
Deficiency Signs
- Pigs: Slow growth, scoring, rough skin, matting of hair coat, sebaceous exudates, still birth, creeping of legs with lameness.
- Calves: Anorexia, poor growth, score, alopecia, lacrimation and salivation.
Niacin (Nicotinic Acid)
- Nicotinic acid is needs for carbohydrate metabolism.
- Pigs are more susceptible to nicotinic acid deficiency, due to high concentrate of corn diet. Corn has low niacin content and low level of tryptophan (i.e. Niacin precursor).
- Niacin deficiency also due to low protein intake.
- Daily requirement of niacin for pigs is 0.1-0.4 mg/kg b.wt.
- Deficiency signs: Inappetence, severe diarrhea, dirty yellow skin and alopecia.
- Therapeutic dose of niacin for pig is at 100-200 mg or 10-20 g/ton of feed.
Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6)
- Pyridoxine deficiency is uncommon diseases.
- Experimental deficiency in pigs: Signs of periodic epileptic form of convulsion and in PM examination generalized hemosidarosis with microcytic anemia, hyperplasia od bone marrow and fatty infiltration of live.
- The daily requirement of Vitamin B6 in pigs is at 100µg/ kg b.wt.
Pantothenic Acid
Pantothenic acid is essential for all species, except in ruminants because it’s synthesized in rumen. Pantothenic acid deficiency is mostly occurs in pigs.
Signs
- Anorexia and reduced feed utilization capacity leads decreased weight gain.
- Dark brown color exudates from eyes with alopecia.
- Diarrhea
- Incoordination with spastic goose stepping gait.
Treatment
- Calcium Pantothenate at 50 µg/kg body weight per day
- Calcium Pantothenate at 10-20 g per tone of feed.
