Bone characteristics of broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with Solanum glaucophyllum

<p>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 <em>in natura </em>were determined. A total of 648 Cobb® male broilers were used in a random block design study with 6 treatments, 6 replicates, and 18 birds per experimental unit. The treatments consisted of diet supplementation with 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 ?g of active vitamin D3 per kg of feed. The birds were weighed at 21 and 35 days of age and one bird per repetition with the mean weight of the experimental unit was slaughtered to collect the tibiotarsus. The organic and mineral composition of the bone was affected by the addition of active vitamin D3 to the feed. Our results indicate that a dose of up to 1.50 ?g of 1,25(OH)2D3/kg of feed is ideal for male broilers between 8 and 35 days of age.