Effects of 1, 25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol and fruit hydroalcoholic extract of Withania Coagulans on bone histological properties and blood parameters of male chickens

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of fruit hydroalcoholic extract of Withania coagulans (WC) and 1, 25-dihydroxycholecalciferol on bone mechanical and histological properties of male 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 Withania coagulans (0, 100 and 200 mg/kg diet), and two levels of 1, 25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (0 and 0.5 μg/kg diet). Both Ca and P retention significantly increased by reducing dietary Ca level (P