High dietary niacinamide and performance of male poults at 16 weeks of age

Abstract

1. Male poults were fed diets with 50 and 100 mg supplemental niacinamide/kg and grown at stocking densities of 3.2 and 4.3 birds/m² from 56 to 112 d.

2. At 50 mg/kg niacinamide high stocking density (HSD) depressed 112 d body weight and gain from 56–112d. High dietary niacinamide (100 mg/kg alleviated the growth depression under HSD but decreased body weight gain under low stocking density (LSD).

3. Dressed yield and hock width were not affected by dietary niacinamide or stocking density.

4. Dressed carcase composition was altered by stocking density. The dressed carcase of HSD birds contained 3.7% more protein and 7% less fat.

5. High dietary niacinamide tended to increase carcase protein (+2.4%) and decrease carcase fat (‐4.0%).