Interrelationships of Riboflavin and Niacin in Laying Hen Diets

VITAMIN requirement standards for laying hens are incomplete. A review of the literature reveals that very little experimental work has been done on vitamin requirements and vitamin interrelationships. Riboflavin and niacin are two of the vitamins which have received relatively little attention in requirement studies. Relatively little work has been published on the niacin requirements of laying hens, and the research data on riboflavin requirements are contradictory. Several attempts were made before 1950 to determine the quantitative requirements of laying hens for riboflavin. Davis et al. (1938) obtained normal production with a ration which contained 0.454 mg. per lb. (computed by them to contain 100 Cornell units per 100 gms.). Cravens et al. (1946) fed rations that varied from 1.3 to 1.9 mg. of riboflavin per lb. of finished ration. Based on data obtained in these trials, it was concluded that there were no significant differences in egg production between…