effects of 1α-oh-d3 on broiler chickens, performance

an experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of 1α-oh-d3 either with or withoutcholecalciferol, microbial phytase as well as different levels of dietary calcium, and phosphorus onbroiler chickens, performance. a number of 576 male broiler chickens (ross 308) were made use of ina completely randomized design of a factorial arrangement (3×2×2×3), comprised of 36 treatments, 4replicates of 4 chicks in each battery cage. factors included three levels of 1α-oh-d3 (0, 5 and 10μg/kg), two levels of cholecalciferol (0 and 5000 icu/kg), two levels of microbial phytase (0 and 500ftu/kg), as well as three levels of ca and phosphorus (100, 75 and 50% of ross broiler nutritionrecommendation values). dietary treatments were implemented within an age interval of from 1 to 42days. supplementation of diets of 5 and 10 μg/kg of 1α-oh-d3 reduced body weight and feed intake at7, 35 and 42d (p