Occurrence: Worldwide. Species affected: All. Age affected: All.

Causes: Deficiency of folic acid in the diet.

Effects: Shortening and thickening of the long bones leads to lameness. Poor growth and feathering, anaemia and high embryonic mortality may also occur.

Folic acid is part of the enzyme system concerned in single-carbon metabolism. It is involved in synthesis of purines and methyl groups of such important metabolites ...