Vitamin B3 Niacin Feed Grade

Vitamin B3, also known as niacin, is a key part of the metabolism, helping the body process fats, carbohydrates, and amino acids.  This translates into a number of vital roles.  Niacin is essential for the health of the skin, bones, joints, mucous membranes, digestive system, and central nervous system.

Niacin has been the subject of numerous studies in recent years, and is probably one of the more frequently supplemented vitamins, particularly in the swine and broiler industries.

In broilers, vitamin B3 is used to partly correct leg problems while still maintaining rapid weight gains.

In swine, niacin supplementation before slaughter appears to improve pork quality.

In dairy cattle, vitamin B3 has a number of beneficial effects.  It improves digestive health, which can lead to better body condition and may prevent metabolic disorders.  Niacin also appears to increase the fertility of dairy cows and may increase milk yield in the early stages of lactation.

In dogs, vitamin B3 is often prescribed to treat discoid lupus erythematosus, an autoimmune disease in which the body becomes allergic to the skin, resulting in crusting, sores, and pigment loss around the nose, eyes, ears, and paws.  Niacin has also been used with success to treat seizures.