GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF BROILER FINISHER CHICKENS FED DIETS SUPPLEMENTED WITH NIACIN AND YEAST

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of niacin and yeast dietary supplementation on the growth performance of broiler chickens. A total of one hundred and twenty broiler chickens at (28) days of age of mixed sexes of the Anak strain were used for the study. The birds were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments, having thirty birds per treatment. They were further divided into three replicates with ten birds per replicate in a completely randomized design (CRD). Niacin and yeast were supplemented in the feed of the birds and fed to them ad libitum. The amount of niacin and yeast that were supplemented
in the various treatments is as listed below: T1 (Control diet) = No Niacin and Yeast. T2= 32.5g of Yeast + 1.5g of Niacin. T3= 32.5g of Yeast + 3g of Niacin. T4= 32.5g of Yeast + 4.5g of Niacin. The results indicated that T2 value was significantly (P<0.05) higher than T1 in final body weight gain (FBW), Total feed intake(TFI), Daily feed intake(DFI) and Feed cost(FC) but statistically similar to T3 and T4 values of FBW, TFI, DFI and FC. However, from the results shown in this study, T3 and T4 had a better feed
conversion ratio of 5.52 and 5.66 respectively. It is therefore recommended that a synergic effect of 32.5g of Yeast + 3g of Niacin or 32.5g of Yeast + 4.5g of Niacin will yield a good result.