Effects of chromium-niacin complex supplementation on the performance, carcass composition, and blood biochemical parameters in meat-type ducks.

This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of chromium-niacin complex on performance,carcass composition,and blood biochemical parameters in meat-type ducks.Two hundred forty female Cherry Valley ducks (1 day old)were randomly divided into 3 groups (80 ducks per group).The diet of each group was supplemented with 0,100 and 200μg/kg chromium from chromium-niacin complex respectively.These were fed for 49 days. The results showed:(1)Addition of chromium from chromium-niacin complex increased (P0.01) weight,average daily gain,and decreased (P0.01) feed/gain ratio,but average daily feed intake was not affected by Cr (P0.05).(2)Dietary chromium supplementation increased (P0.05) lean meat rate and crude protein content of carcass,but decreased (P0.05) subcutanous fat rate and ether extract content of carcass.(3)Dietary chromium supplementation reduced (P0.01)serum glucose,total fat,total cholesterol and triglyceride level,but increased (P0.01) serum total protein level. The results indicate that dietary 200 μg/kg chromium from chromium-niacin complex supplementation can improve performance and carcass quality of meat-type ducks.