Research On Animal Production

  An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of hydro alcoholic extract of Withania coagulans (WC ) and 1, 25-dihydroxycholecalciferol on performance and bone strength of male broiler chickens. Diets were arranged factorially (2×3×2) consisted of a positive control with adequate Ca (10.4 g/kg diet) and nonphytate P (NPP 5 g/kg diet) exceed the requirements suggested in the Ross 308 broiler nutrient specifications and a negative control diet with Ca (7.3 g/kg diet) and nonphytate P (NPP 5 g/kg diet ), three levels of WC (0, 100 and 200 mg/kg diet), and two levels of 1, 25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (0 and 0.5 μg/kg diet). Reducing the dietary Ca level by 30 % decreased tibia diameter (P<0.05) at 42 day of age. Bone fracture energy significantly increased with supplementation of 1, 25-dihydroxycholecalciferol at 42 day of age (P<0.01). Supplementation of 100 mg/kg WC significantly increased shear force (P<0.05) and fracture energy (P<0.01) at 42 day of age. At 21 day of age birds provided with 100 mg/kg of WC had a significant higher cortical thickness and tended to increase at 42 day. The results of this experiment indicated that supplementation of 100 mg/kg fruit hydro alcoholic extract of WC exhibit beneficial effects on bone characteristics without any adverse effects on productive performance.