Effects of enhancing vitamin D status by 25-hydroxycholecalciferol supplementation, alone or in combination with calcium and phosphorus, on sternum mineralisation and breast meat quality in broilers

Abstract

1. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of improving vitamin D status in broiler diets by supplementary 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25OHD(3)), alone or in combination with calcium (Ca) and available phosphorus (aP), on live performance, sternum mineralisation and breast meat quality in broilers. 2. A total of 936 1-d-old Ross 308 broilers were used in the study. After gender determination at the hatchery, chicks from each sex were randomly distributed into three dietary treatments. The following dietary treatments were used in the experiment from hatch to 38 d: (1) A control diet formulated to meet all of the nutrient requirements of broiler chicks according to the management guide; (2) The control diet supplemented with 18.7-15.0 mu g/kg of 25OHD(3); and (3) The control diet supplemented with 18.7-15.0 mu g/kg of 25OHD(3) plus Ca + aP. 3. Improvement in vitamin D status by 25OHD(3) supplementation, alone or in combination with Ca and aP, had no effect on body weight and feed conversion ratio of broilers. 4. The serum 25OHD(3) concentration significantly increased with 25OHD(3) and 25OHD(3) plus Ca + aP supplementation (P < 0.05), whereas the ionised Ca and Mg concentrations remained unchanged. 5. Sternum absolute weight, ash content and the concentrations of Ca and P significantly increased (P < 0.01) with supplementation of 25OHD(3), alone or in combination with Ca + aP. 6. Supplemental 25OHD(3), alone or in combination with Ca + aP, slightly increased pH(24) (P = 0.05) and decreased (P < 0.01) squeezable water loss in breast meat, whereas it had no significant effect on lightness, yellowness and sarcoplasmic protein solubility. 7. In conclusion, the results suggested that enhancing vitamin D status by 25OHD(3) supplementation alone or in combination with Ca + aP may improve sternum structure and mineral accretion. Furthermore, supplemental 25OHD(3), even in a nutritionally complete diet, may offer an effective way to improve protein solubility in female broilers.