DESEMPENHO PRODUTIVO E REPRODUTIVO DE MATRIZES DE CORTE SUBMETIDAS A DIETAS CONTENDO CANTAXANTINA E 25- HIDROXICOLECALCIFEROL (25-OH-D3)

Abstract

Carotenoids are organic molecules with antioxidant functions, pigments, provitamins and immunomodulatory properties. Carotenoids are not synthesized by birds and must therefore be supplied in the diet. It is also possible to supplement the vitamin D3 metabolite as 25-(OH)-D3 (25-hydroxycholecalciferol), which may be related to improvement of skeletal growth of poultry, egg production, shell quality and reproducibility, since this vitamin is involved in the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate diets containing canthaxanthin and 25-(OH)-D3 on productive and reproductive performance of broiler breeder flocks of Cobb line of 53 to 61 weeks of age. Thirty thousand females and 3.600 males were used, with 51 weeks of age, the birds were housed in three aviaries divided into 4 boxes, totaling 12 units, each containing 3.000 females and 300 males. The birds were subjected to the following treatments: control diet (without additives under study) or diet with 25-(OH)-D3 and Canthaxanthin, through the inclusion of ROVIMIX Maxichick® product, as recommended by the supplier. The variables analyzed were egg production rate, take the eggs, colored gems, number per bird hatching, hatching, hatchability, fertility, embryonic mortality and number of viable chicks per hen eggs. The experimental design was a randomized block design with two treatments and six replications. There was no effect of treatments on egg production variables, take the eggs and number of hatching eggs per bird housed. The inclusion of Canthaxanthin and 25-(OH)-D3 in diet reduced embryonic mortality and increased the yolk color of eggs, the percentage of hatching and the number of viable chicks produced per bird. Therefore, the use of 60 mg/kg of diet Maxichick the cutting dies of Cobb line, 53 to 61 weeks of age, is recommended for improving important breeding characteristics which have significant economic impact on poultry farms.