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2681556 
Journal Article 
Effects of vitamin K-3 supplementation on growth performance and bone quality of broiler chickens 
Duarte, CRA; Bratti, FC; Murakami, AE; Fernandes, JIM; Ospina-Rojas, IC; Furlan, AC 
2014 
Yes 
Archivos de Medicina Veterinaria
ISSN: 0301-732X
EISSN: 0717-6201 
46 
305-313 
Vitamin K is involved in blood clotting process and plays an important role in bone formation. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the supplementation of different levels of vitamin K-3 on growth performance and bone parameters of broiler chickens. For this purpose, 1,500 broiler chickens were distributed in a completely randomized experimental design. The treatments consisted of a control diet containing 1.6 mg of vitamin K-3/kg of diet and 5 levels of vitamin K-3 (11.6 mg/kg; 21.6 mg/kg; 41.6 mg/kg, 61.6 mg/kg and 81.6 mg/kg), with 5 replicates and 50 chickens per experimental unit. At 7, 21, and 40 days of age, growth performance (body weight, body weight gain, feed intake and feed:gain ratio) and bone parameters (bone length and diameter, Seedor index and bone strength) were evaluated. The increase in vitamin K-3 levels improved the feed intake, body weight and body weight gain in the pre-initial phase. At 40 days old, all performance parameters were similar among the different levels of vitamin K-3. At 21 and 40 days of age, bone parameters were impaired as dietary levels of vitamin K-3 increased. The results suggest that the recommended level of vitamin K-3 in broiler chicken diets is 1.6 mg/kg of diet. 
bone quality; bone strenght; Seedor index; vitamin K