Vitamins represent approximately 1% of feed costs in broiler feeds, yet take no back seat to ensure optimal growth, feed efficiency and reproductive function. Naturally occurring vitamins in ingredients vary considerably in concentration and bioavailability. Various sources of recommendations help decide vitamin supplementation levels used by commercial nutritionists. In a survey that accounted for more than 98.6% of the U.S. broiler industry, dsm-firmenich Nutritional Products ascertained the vitamin fortification rates used commercially.
Specifics of the Survey
U.S. broiler nutritionists provided vitamin premix fortification rates identified for starter, grower, finisher, and withdrawal feeds. Broiler breeder fortification levels corresponded to a lay period from 24 to 65 weeks of age.
For each vitamin, three categories were calculated.
All averages are non-weighted means based on pure supplemented vitamin content. Percent coefficients of variation (CV = standard deviation divided by the mean times 100) were calculated to estimate the consistency of vitamin addition rates within feeds. The results do not included vitamins (high vitamin E, for example) supplemented separately from the premix.
Vitamin Supplementation
Broilers. In the survey, complete broiler vitamin premixes ranged between 1.06–0.68 lbs per ton (2,000 lbs) across all feeds. The vitamin premix inclusion rates declined about 36% from starter to withdrawal, as reflected in reduced fortification levels of the maturing bird (Table 1).
Vitamin supplementation averaged about 1.6–1.8 times higher in the starter period, as opposed to the withdrawal period (Table 1) when compared across starter, grower, finisher and withdrawal vitamin premixes. With no exceptions, the level of every vitamin declined from the starter period. The greatest decline existed in the vitamin fortification levels of the withdrawal phase when compared to the starter phase. Vitamin A, vitamin D, niacin, pantothenic acid, and vitamin B12 had the highest reduction in the starter to the withdrawal feed ranging from 60%–63%.
A tendency is present for vitamin levels to be decreased in the late stages of grow-out. This has been associated with performance losses, although body reserves of some vitamins exist, several factors affect the extent and reliability of tissue storage. Saving a few cents in vitamin costs can easily cost far more in lost performance.
Overall, commercial levels of several vitamins in the starter and grower periods within the Hi25 most nearly replicated Optimal Vitamin Nutrition® (OVN) recommended levels (Table 2). The OVN was developed to account for a variety of factors in commercial production that can modify vitamin requirements (i.e., lowered intestinal absorption, immunity challenges, etc.). Supplementation rates for the Lo25 were significantly lower than the Hi25 or OVN. The only vitamin that industry feeding levels fell between OVN and the average was riboflavin in the starter phase at 7.7 g/US ton.
The CV was lowest in the early feeds, but increased in the finisher and withdrawal, indicating a wider disparity in fortification rates as broilers progressed through grow-out (Table 3). Supplementation rates of riboflavin, pantothenic acid, vitamin A and niacin were less variable; while biotin, folic acid, vitamin E and K varied the most.
Breeders. Breeder fortification levels are summarized in Table 4. In breeders, vitamins serve maintenance and production purposes, and fortify eggs in preparation for embryonic development. Hence, it follows that levels are highest for this group. Broiler breeder vitamin premix inclusion rates averaged about 1.26 lbs per U.S. ton. In fact, the average breeder vitamin supplementation levels exceeded the average vitamin fortification values for the broiler starter phase.
Overall vitamin variability for breeders was similar to that for broiler starter and broiler grower fortification rates. Vitamin A was least variable (9.0%) in the broiler breeder premix, while vitamin B12 and biotin were the most variable (40% or more; Table 3). The remaining vitamins were moderate in consistency in fortification rates.
Conclusion
20 March 2023
18 Jul 2022
Rovimix® Calpan is DSM’s market-leading source of pantothenic acid, vitamin B5. This critical vitamin is very stable in premixes and is required in relatively large amounts for broiler breeders and gestating/lactating sows. Biological functions of B5 include all aspects of protein and energy metabolism, which means that deficiency signs are very non-specific, such as poor growth or dermatitis.
17 Oct 2022
Yes there are! Although most symptoms of a vitamin deficiency today are vague and not definitive (poor performance, lower growth rate, increased disease incidence), there are instances of a clear-cut vitamin deficiency. A recent example is from the University of Wisconsin, in which researchers noted kyphosis (hump-backs) in growing pigs consuming a standard research ration. Analysis revealed that vitamin D3 was inadvertently left out of the vitamin premix, and that the kyphosis observed was associated with a simple D3 deficiency. Since most vitamin deficiency symptoms aren’t as clearcut as the University of Wisconsin example, use OVN guidelines as a tool to check recommended vitamin levels and to avoid possible deficiencies.
19 Dec 2022
Biotin, Vitamin B7, was first synthesized in 1943. Researchers in the early 1900’s had noted a dermatitis, hair loss syndrome in animals and humans consuming diets high in raw egg whites, which took years to elucidate. Since that time, many production functions such as foot pad lesions in poultry, litter size in sows, and hoof health in ruminants have shown positive responses to biotin supplementation. Biotin requirements are very low, often a fraction of a milligram per kg of diet, which means cost to supplement is very low: 10-20 cents per ton for broiler starter for example.
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