ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Effect of the level of cholecalciferol supplementation of broiler diets on the performance and tibial dyschondroplasia

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate four different cholecalciferol levels (NRC; modified), using diets supplemented with 200 (control), 1500, 2500 or 3500 IU/kg of cholecalciferol (VIT-D3). Each treatment was assigned to 3 pens of 17 broiler chicks of a commercial strain grown in an open-sided house with sidewall curtains. At 21 and 42 days, BW and feed conversion (FCR) were determined. At 42 days, five birds per pen were slaughtered to evaluate tibia and toe ash of the right leg, and incidence and severity of tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) of the left tibia and also measured dressing percentage and breast meat yield. Serum calcium and phosphorus concentrations were also determined. Haemagglutination inhibition antibody titre against Newcastle disease virus and lymphoid organs weight/body weight ratio were also determined. At both 21 and 42 days, the BW of birds fed 1500 IU/kg to 3500 IU/kg of VIT-D3 was significantly greater than birds fed 200 IU/kg. Similarly, better FCR was observed in birds those fed diets of high level of VIT-D3. No significant difference was observed for mortality at any age. Better dressing percentage and breast meat yield were noted in birds fed diets containing 2500 or 3500 IU/kg VIT-D3. Both tibia and toe ash contents were increased (p < 0.05) progressively with increased concentrations of cholecalciferol in feed. The incidence of TD (percentage of birds having TD scores greater than zero) was significantly (p < 0.05) influenced by level of 3500 IU VIT-D3/kg at 42 days. The severity of TD in birds fed diets containing 200 IU/kg VIT-D3 was apparently higher than birds fed diets with higher levels of VIT-D3. Concentrations of calcium and phosphorus minerals in the serum increased progressively with the high level of VIT-D3 supplementation to birds at both 21 and 42 days of age. Feeding levels of 1500 or 3500 IU of vitamin D3 did positively affect the immune system within the parameters measured. It may be concluded that performance, bone mineralization, blood chemistry and immunity against disease in broilers could be maintained when supplementing high level of VIT-D3 incorporated in broiler diets.

Use of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol in Diets of Broiler Chickens: Effects on Growth Performance, Immunity and Bone Calcification

“…This result is in agreement with others studies conducted previously in broiler chicken (Xu et al, 1997;Kasim and Edwards, 2000;Fritts and Waldroup, 2003;Khan et al, 2010). It was confirmed that the recommendation of NRC (1994) for VIT-D3 in broiler diets, is mainly to avoid deficiency signs more than to reach higher production index.…”

“…Since, elicited CBH response in birds by inoculation with PHA-P is a Thymus dependent response mediated by T cells (Corrier and De Loach, 1990). Moreover, our data were similar with Khan et al (2010), it showed that commercial level of VIT-D3 were more effective to induce better antibody response versus NDV vaccination. …”

“…Furthermore, 25-OH-D 3 participates more actively than VIT-D3 in the calcium absorption at intestinal level, the mobilization of calcium to bones and calcium fixation (Applegate et al, 2003;Ledwaba and Roberson, 2003;Fritts and Waldroup, 2005;Driver et al, 2006;) which was also observed in this study with treatments including 25-OH-D 3 which demonstrated an increase in the calcium deposition in the tibias of sacrificed birds. Some studies (Etten et al, 2008;Chou et al, 2009;Khan et al, 2010) reported that VIT-D3 can modulate the immune response and productive parameters in broilers chickens. Similarly to these studies, our results confirmed that some immune parameters of chickens were affected by both, source and level of VIT-D3 supplemented in the diet of broilers.…”

Desempenho, rendimento de carcaça e cortes nobres de frangos de corte alimentados com rações suplementadas com Solanum glaucophyllum

“…Os autores concluíram que o maior ganho de peso ocorrido nessa fase foi com o nível de 20,0 µg/kg, independente da fonte de 25-hidroxicolecalciferol. Khan et al (2010) Os níveis de vitamina D 3 ativa estudados (0,0; 0,5; 1,0; 1,5; 2,0 e 2,5 µg/kg de ração) não influenciaram as características de carcaça avaliadas. É possível que tenha ocorrido uma melhora na mineralização óssea das aves.…”

Níveis De Vitamina D Sobre O Desempenho E Desenvolvimento Ósseo De Linhagens De Frangos De Corte

“…A interferência no ganho de peso e no rendimento de carcaça poderia acontecer se os níveis de Ca e P estivessem desbalanceados, pois, nesta condição, a vitamina D compensaria este desequilíbrio, aumentando a absorção intestinal e diminuindo a excreção renal, para garantir a homeostase destes minerais no organismo (WALDENTEST, 2006). Entretanto, Whitehead et al (2004) ao analisarem níveis de vitamina D, de 200, 800, 5000 e 10000 UI em tratamentos com: 0,80% de Ca e 0,35 e 0,50% de P; 1,30% de Ca e 0,35 e 0,50% de P até os 14 dias para frangos de corte, observaram aumento significativo no peso corporal e da resistência óssea, proporcionalmente a adição da vitamina D, independente do nível de Ca e P. Foi demonstrado por Khan et al (2010), ao estudarem menores níveis de vitamina D (200, 1500, 2500 e 3500 UI de colecalciferol) que os melhores resultados para peso corporal, conversão alimentar aos 28 e 42 dias, foram obtidos para o nível máximo utilizado de vitamina D utilizado, de 3500 UI.…”