Abstract
An experiment was carried out with the objective of evaluating the addition of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25(OH) D3) in diets of broiler breeder hens. The experiment used Cobb 500 broiler breeder hens and was allotted to a complete randomized design with four treatments and eight replications of twenty females and two males each. The treatments consisted of vitamin premixes with 2,000 and 3,400 IU/kg diet vitamin D3 as the only source of vitamin or 2,000 IU D3 plus 35 or 69 mg/t of 25(OH) D3. Results of this experiment indicated that 25(OH) D3 had no significant effect on egg production parameters from 32 to 67 weeks. The supplementation of 25(OH) D3 resulted in better quality egg shells evaluated by the specific gravity at 60 weeks of age, regardless of the dosage. No significant differences were observed for hatchability of broiler breeder fertile eggs at 54 and 64 weeks. At 64 weeks, the hatch residue breakout showed less embryo mortality at the third week for treatments receiving 2,000 UI D3 in the diet and less embryo mortality at the second week of development from hens aged 67 weeks and supplemented with 2,000IU D3 and 2,000IU D3+ 69 mg 25(OH)D3. It was concluded that the supplementation with 25-hydroxycholecalciferol with cholecalciferol had similar effects as the diets with vitamin D3 as the only source on the productive performance of broiler breeder hens.
Highlights
Alterations in the skeleton of domestic broilers have frequently been observed with meat birds selected for fast growth, which can harm animal welfare and live performance development
Alternative sources of vitamin D3, such as 1.25(OH)2D3 and 25(OH)D3, may benefit broiler skeletal development as well as eggshell quality since this vitamin is directly involved in Ca and P homeostasis (Norman, 1986; 1987)
This study was carried out with the objective of evaluating live performance responses related to egg production and hatchability parameters using broiler breeder hens fed diets supplemented with 25-hidroxicolecalciferol and cholecalciferol
Summary
Alterations in the skeleton of domestic broilers have frequently been observed with meat birds selected for fast growth, which can harm animal welfare and live performance development. The metabolite 25(OH)D3 has higher rates of transference into eggs, which lead to reduced incidences of progeny skeletal disorders and better immunity and hatchability parameters (Edwards Jr., 1990; Aslam, 1998). This form of vitamin D should have an important concomitant effect for breeders as well as for the resulting embryo. This study was carried out with the objective of evaluating live performance responses related to egg production and hatchability parameters using broiler breeder hens fed diets supplemented with 25-hidroxicolecalciferol and cholecalciferol
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