Effect of Niacin Supplementation on Layers Performance

Abstract

This study was carried out at Teaching and Research Farm, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta to investigate the effect of niacin supplementation in layers performance. A total of 75 laying birds at 24 weeks of age were used in the trial. Four dietary treatments with niacin at 0 ppm, 30 ppm, 40 ppm, and 50 ppm were fed to the bird for a period of 20 weeks. Each treatment had 18 birds comprising 3 replicates of six birds each. At 0-10 weeks and 10-20 weeks, a significant difference (p<0.05) were observed in all the parameters considered except in feed/dozen egg in 10-20 weeks. At 0 ppm lower values were observed for the two age groups in daily feed intake (0.118, 0.118), total feed intake (8.31, 16.57) and average hen day production (57.62, 52.30). Supplementation of niacin up to 50ppm in layers diets led to a significant increase (p<0.05) in feed/dozen egg, feed/kg egg and hen- day egg production in the two age groups.