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Niacin Deficiency

Other Names: Vitamin B3 Deficiency, Pellagra

Niacin is a water-soluble B vitamin, which is also known as vitamin B3 or nicotinic acid.
Niacin
Nicotinamide is the derivative of niacin and used by the body to form the coenzymes nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP). Nicotinic acid and nicotinamide are rapidly absorbed from the stomach and the intestine.

Causes of Niacin Deficiency


Niacin deficiency may result from inadequate dietary intake of niacin and/or tryptophan. Other nutrient deficiencies may also contribute to the development of niacin deficiency. When chicks hatch they have considerable tryptophan contained in the protein of the yolk, if it is fully absorbed. Chicks are at risk of niacin deficiency if the starter feed contains low levels of the amino acid, tryptophan or niacin. Most chicken corn-based chicken feeds provide limited levels of tryptophan.

Niacin Deficiency in Chickens


Niacin deficiency in young chicks most commonly presents as enlargement of the hock joint, bowing of the legs similar to perosis, poor feathering, and a dermatitis on the feet and head. Niacin deficiency in adult chickens presents as severe metabolic disorders in the skin and digestive organs. Clinical signs include loss of appetite, weakness, digestive disorders and diarrhea.

Dietary Sources of Niacin


Niacin is widely distributed in feedstuffs of both plant and animal origin. The best food sources of niacin include distiller’s grains, Brewer's yeast, beets, fish, various distillation and fermentation solubles, sunflower seeds, and certain oilseed meals. The availability of niacin in grain and grain by-products is very low.
Niacin food sources for chickens
Other sources of niacin include tablets or capsules in both regular and timed-release forms.

Nutritional Requirements of Niacin


The NRC (1994) recommends from 10 to 65 mg/kg of niacin (4.5 to 29.5 mg/lb) in feed for various classes of poultry, however this is suspected to be outdated, and more recent studies have shown that chickens should receive the following recommended amounts of niacin in their diet:
Age/Life Stagemg/kg
Newly Hatched Chicks (0 - 10 wks)50-60
Young & Growing (10 - 20 wks)30-60
Laying hens (Actively laying eggs)30-50
Breeders (20 wks & older)*45-60
Broiler/'Meat' Breed Chicks (0-18 wks)30-60
Broiler/'Meat' Breeds* (19 wks & older)50-60
In the calculation of the niacin content of formulated diets, probably all the niacin from cereal grain sources should be ignored or at least given a value no greater than one-third of the total niacin. The bioavailability of niacin depends on the predominate grain source used in the feed. Soybean meal provides 100% bioavailability of niacin, while wheat, sorghum, and corn vary from 0 to 30%. In addition, different strains of chickens have different niacin requirements. Rapidly growing broiler chicks require more niacin because of the faster gains of modern strains of birds as compared with more historical populations.

Clinical Signs

Poor feathering
Enlarged hock joints
Dermatitis
Twisted legs
Bowed legs
Diarrhea

Diagnosis

  • History
  • Clinical signs
  • Physical exam
  • Diet evaluation

Treatment

NameSummary
Supportive careIsolate the bird from the flock and place in a safe, comfortable, warm location (your own chicken "intensive care unit") with easy access to water and food. Limit stress. Call your veterinarian.
Brewers yeast75 g/kg added to feed dailyK Marx

Support

Prevention

Supplementing diet with niacin or products containing high quantities of niacin.

Prognosis

If caught early enough, before tendon slips from its condyles then recovery is good.

Scientific References

Age Range

Newly hatched chicks are more at risk of niacin deficiency

Risk Factors

  • Inadequate dietary intake of niacin and/or tryptophan
  • Malnutrition
  • Poor quality protein diet
  • Tetracycline antibiotics interfere with absorption.
  • Feeding chicks corn-based starter feeds

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