Influence of dietary niacin on finishing pig performance and meat quality

Abstract

One hundred forty-four finishing pigs were used to determine the influence of added dietary niacin on their growth performance and meat quality. Gilts grew slower, ate less, and were more efficient than barrows for the entire growth performance period. Increasing dietary niacin levels to 25 g/ton increased ADG in gilts for the first 25 days, but decreased ADG for barrows. No other interactions occurred. From d 25 to 62, ADFI tended to increase for pigs fed up to 100 g/ton niacin, whereas pigs fed 500 g/ton niacin ate less. Dietary niacin level did not significantly affect carcass yield or quality characteristics.