The active form of vitamin D, 1,25- (1,25(OH)2D3), plays a vital role in calcium and phosphorus metabolism, skeletal health, immune regulation, muscle growth and a variety of other functions.
International Poultry Production - Volume 33 Number 6
Interplay of vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus metabolism in eggshell formation.
Good chick quality and the number of fertile settable eggs per hen housed are the main drivers in broiler breeder operations. Apart from incubation conditions, successful hatchability depends on many factors related to eggshell quality (for example strength, porosity and absence of microfractures).
During the last decade, great progress has been made on the laying persistency of white and brown laying hens. As a result, there is an increasing number of flocks that pass the ‘500 eggs milestone’ in many countries. This milestone is better known as ‘500 eggs per hen housed without moulting’.
The combination of high ambient temperatures and high humidity is a well-known external stressor in livestock production. Layers are particularly sensitive to heat stress, because of daily egg and eggshell production.
Modern laying hens have a huge potential to produce affordable and high quality animal protein. In current practice, layers can produce over 500 eggs per hen-housed, whereas the potential of certain genetics under optimal conditions is already at least 30% higher.
The aim of this study was to assess the characteristics of the tibiotarsus of male broilers at 21 and 35 days of age. The percentages of collagenous proteins (CP), non-collagenous proteins (NCP), ash, and minerals (calcium, phosphorus, potassium and sodium), as well as weight of dried and defatted tibiotarsus in natura were determined.
The safety of supplementing broiler feed with a standardised herbal extract, Solanum Glaucophyllum Standardised Leaves (SGSL) containing glycosylated 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) and standardised to contain …
Background: Classically, vitamin D has been implicated in bone health by promoting calcium absorption in the gut and maintenance of serum calcium and phosphate concentrations, as well as by its action on bone growth and reorganization through the action of osteoblasts and osteoclasts cells.
Improvements in broiler growth performance resulting from commercial selection are associated with poor skeletal health. Vitamin D3 plays an important role in Ca and P homeostasis and is essential for bone strength. Several studies have demonstrated that feeding biologically active metabolites of D3 [25(OH)D3 and 1,25(OH)2D3] can improve bone health.
Studies were conducted to determine the effect of dietary supplementation with cholecalciferol (D3), 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol [1,25-(OH)2D3], 1alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol (1α-OHD3), and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OHD3) on utilization of phytate P by broiler chickens.
The plant Solanum glaucophyllum (SG) is known to contain 1α,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol in a glycosidic form (1α,25(OH)2D3-Gly). Products derived from this plant can therefore be used to support the functions of Vitamin D (VD) in men and animal.
Vitamin D requires two metabolic steps to become biologically active. In a first step 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 is formed, which acts as storage form. After a tightly controlled step in kidney the active metabolite 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) is formed. Because kidney is the relevant metabolic organ for this conversion, 1,25(OH)2D3 needs …
1. Chemical characterisation of an extract of Solanum glaucophyllum (SG) leaves affirmed the predominant presence of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25(OH)2D3) glycosides. The compound 1-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)-1α,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol was isolated for the first time from a natural source. 2. Vitamin D activity of the extract …
As antibiotic-free broiler production, often even including ionophore coccidiostats, is becoming more common, the immunocompetence of birds becomes increasingly important. One way to achieve this is to modulate and support the immune system to increase disease resistance of the animals.