Effect of dietary supplementation of α-calcidiol on growth performance and carcass traits of broiler chicken

An experiment was conducted to study effect of supplementation of α-calcidiol on broiler chicken. 300 newly hatched Vencobb 400 broiler chicks were randomly distributed into five treatments each containing 4 replicates of 15 chicks. Experimental ration was prepared as per BIS standards. Group T₁ was fed standard diet with vitamin D₃ @ 75μg/kg of feed and group T₂,T₃, T₄ and T₅ was fed standard diet (without vitamin D₃) with α-calcidiol @ 5, 10, 15 and 20 μg/kg of feed, respectively. The feed and water was offered adlibitum to all treatment groups. The growth performance was recorded weekly up to 42 days of age. At the end of experimental period carcass study was conducted. On supplementation of α-calcidiol significant (PÂ0.05) difference in weekly body weight was observed in 5^th and 6^th weeks of experiment. The highest weekly body weight was observed in group T₅. The weekly body weight gain was comparable among all the treatment groups throughout the study period. The weekly feed intake and FCR was observed comparable in between treatment groups up to 4^th week. A linear trend of decreasing FCR was observed with increase in α-calcidiol supplemented groups and T₅ recorded best FCR. The effect on carcass traits remains comparable among the groups. It was concluded that supplementation of α-calcidiol @ 20μg/kg of feed showed highest weekly body weight, better FCR, and highest net profit of Rs. 36.50 compared to other treatment groups.