Effect of dietary niacin supplementation on performance, total tract nutrient retention, carcass yield and meat lipid profile of growing turkeys

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate the influence of dietary high or recommended nicotinic acid (niacin) supplementation on growth performance, total tract nutrient digestibility, hematology, serum chemistry, and lipoprotein concentrations in the serum and meat of growing turkeys. Turkeys were assigned to three treatments on weight equalisation basis with five replicates of eight turkeys in each group. Experimental diets were: no supplemental niacin (Control), a diet supplemented with 60 mg/kg niacin termed as recommended niacin supplementation and a diet supplemented with 180 mg/kg niacin termed as high niacin supplementation (HNS). The experiment lasted for the grower (Day 56–84) and finisher phases (Day 84–112) of the birds. Dietary inclusion of HNS increased (P < 0.01) bodyweight gain, metabolisable energy (Days 84 and 112), dressing percentage and retail cut parts of turkeys (Day 112) in relation to the Control-fed turkeys. Furthermore, least white blood cell count and higher concentrations of packed cell volume, red blood cells and hemoglobin (P < 0.01) were found in turkeys fed HNS on Days 84 and 112. Similarly, turkeys in the HNS group had improved serum constituents including serum protein, uric acid, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphate. The blood and meat lipid profile analysis showed that low density lipoprotein and total cholesterol were least (P < 0.05) in turkeys fed HNS. Collectively, dietary high supplementation of niacin (180 mg/kg) improves production performances, reduces serum and meat fat content and improve indicators of stress resistance ability in growing turkeys.