Calcitriol combined with fish oil in the diet of Chukar partridge can ameliorate laying performance by improving oviduct histomorphometry and functions

AbstractThe effects of calcitriol (CT) and/or fish oil (FO) on performance, oviposition time, sex ratio  and morphology of the reproductive system of laying Chukar partridges were studied. Female (n = 48) and male (n = 16) partridges were used in a completely randomised design using a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement and were randomly allocated to either of four experimental treatments with four cage replicates of three females and one male each. Female birds received no FO (CON −  FO) or were orally administered with 0.2 mL (0.24 g)/500 g body weight FO (CON + FO) or 0.2 mL solution containing 10 µg CT (CT − FO), or their combination (CT + FO) for 42 successive days. The eggs were collected every two hours between 07:00 and 23:00 h. Administering FO along with CT had considerably increasing effect on the male-biased sex ratio. FO and CT administration interacted to increase serum calcium concentration. Experimental treatments increased the number of leucocytes and erythrocytes. Serum cholesterol was decreased in CON + FO partridges compare d with those of the CT − FO and CON − FO birds. There was an interaction between FO and CT on the weight of eggs and hatchlings, number of medium white follicles, diameter and the number of small yellow follicles, the weight and diameter of the fifth follicles (F5), and thickness of seco ndary mucosal folds in both uterus and vagina. Administering CT alone or with FO increased the f...
Source: Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition - Category: Zoology Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research