1,25-dihidroxicolecalciferol de origem herbal (Solanum glaucophyllum) mantém o desempenho e a qualidade óssea de frangos de corte fêmeas durante restrição de cálcio e fósforo

The supplementation with 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25(OH)2D3) has been evaluated as an alternative to reduce dietary concentrations of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P). Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the best level of dietary supplementation of 1,25(OH)2D3 from plant source (Solanum glaucophyllum) to female broiler chickens restricted in Ca and available P (aP). A total of 684 day-old chicks were weighted and equally distributed in a completely randomized design with six treatments and six replications of 19 birds. Treatments consisted of a positive control (PC): corn- and soybean-meal diet formulated to reach animals’ nutritional requirements; a negative control (NC): PC diet with 15% reduction in dietary Ca and aP concentrations; and four NC diets supplemented with 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 or 2.0 μg/kg of 1,25(OH)2D3. Growth performance was evaluated at 42 days; bone mineralization characteristics, at 21 and 33 days. Broilers fed NC decreased feed intake (P<0.05), but not weight gain and feed conversion ratio. At day 21, the supplementation of NC with 1,25(OH2)D3 did not return tibiotarsus ash to the same level as that observed in broilers fed PC, but it kept other bone characteristics at simmilar values. At day 33, broilers fed NC supplemented with 1,25(OH2)D3 showed higher bone weight. Overall, broilers fed 2.0 μg/kg of 1,25(OH)2D3 had higher ash content than those fed PC.