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Effect of Composite Vitamin Supplementation on Broilers

BASF Corporation, 3000 Continental Drive - North, Mt. Olive, NJ 07828-1234; Phone: (201) 426-5390; FAX: (201) 426-5381

J. L. McNaughton

PARC Institute, P. O. Box 1161, Easton, MD 21601

Correspondence: M. B. Coelho

To determine the optimum level of vitamin supplementation of broilers under three levels of environmental and disease stresses, a floor pen trial was conducted. Treatments included five vitamin supplementation levels and three broiler stress conditions. Multi-stress agents included litter age, bird density, coccidiosis challenge, E. coli challenge, fat peroxide value, and diet density.

Higher composite vitamin supplementation significantly improved (P<. 05) broiler performance and carcass characteristics and broiler profitability. This study confirms that NRC (1984) vitamin supplementation rates may not support maximum commercial broiler performance, that increased stress raises the vitamin supplementation required to maximize broiler performance, and that nutritionists are justified in using higher vitamin supplementation rates to maximize profitability.

Key Words: Broiler performance • carcass composition • disease stress • National Research Council • vitamins • vitamin fortification • vitamin requirements