HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Roberson, K. D. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Roberson, K. D.

25-Hydroxycholecalciferol Fails to Prevent Tibial Dyschondroplasia in Broiler Chicks Raised in Battery Brooders

Department of Animal Science, University of Tennessee, Martin Experiment Station, Martin, TN 38238; Phone: (901) 587-7279; FAX: (901) 587-7968

Correspondence: Kevin D. Roberson

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of high levels of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-(OH)D₃) in preventing tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) in broilers obtained from a commercial hatchery and grown in batter-brooder cages to 17 days of age. Levels of 25-(OH)D₃ ranging from 0 to 250 µg/kg were added to diets adequate (0.95%) or low (0.65%) in calcium.

There was no effect on body weight, feed:gain, plasma calcium or phosphorus, or bone ash. 25-(OH)D₃ did not affect the incidence of TD or the number of severe lesions in these experiments. Although there was a decrease in overall severity in Experiment 1 when 46 µg/kg was fed, there was no response to dietary 25-(OH)D₃ when higher levels were fed in either experiment. There was no consistent effect of 25-(OH)D₃ on phytate phosphorus utilization. The results of these experiments indicate that 25-(OH)D₃ did not prevent TD in commercial broiler chicks raised in battery-brooder cages when fed at levels as high as 250 µg/kg.

Key Words: Broiler • phytate • tibial dyschondroplasia • 25-dydroxycholecalciferol