PLASMA BIOCHEMICAL AND HEMATOLOGICAL PROF ILE AFTER FEEDING CZECH VITAMIN-D(3) SUPPLEMENTS

An interest in vitamin D3 and its metabolite roles has released an exp losion of new information in relation to the animal nutrition and phys iology. In general, vitamin D3 deficiency considerably affects phospho rus and calcium metabolism. Its inadequacy can result in calcium, phos phorus and magnesium changes in blood plasma, Simultaneously the activ ity of alkaline phosphatase is being increased. The new vitamin D3 res earch also showed that the most active metabolite of vitamin D3 acted in non-specific immunoreactions (Ammenudin, 1985; Porsova, 1987). Biol ogical efficiency of two Czech vitamin D3 supplements (feeding coated forms) from VUOS Pardubice in comparison with those produced by Jereva n Vitamin Co. and Hoffmann La Roche Co. (positive control) was studied . The present study (two experiments with broilers) was conducted to o btain information on plasma Ca and P levels and AP activity at the age of 27 and 56 days. Some white blood count values were also measured. Two experiments were performed on Hybro broiler chickens. The chickens were randomly alloted to five groups of sixty each. The groups were f ed a rachitogenic diet ad libitum; vitamin D3 supplements were added t o feed additive premixes. There was also a negative control in both tr ials (Tab. 1). Plasma Ca, P and AP concentrations were assayed using B io-La Test Lachema Brno Total and differential leucocyte counts were p erformed according to the technique described by Natt and Herrick (195 5), Data were analysed by analysis of variance; significant difference s between treatment means were determined by Duncan's multiple range t est. Plasma biochemical parameters are shown in Tab. II. Plasma Ca and P concentrations and AP activity ranged from 2.7 to 6 mmol/l, 1.1 to 2.3 mmol/l and 13.3 to 24.3 mukat/l, respectively. No significant diff erence between the groups was confirmed during the study of Ca and P p lasma levels. This observation corresponds with the results reported b y Leeson and Summers (1988) and Bootwalla et al. (1989). We assessed o nly significantly higher Ca plasma concentrations in 56 days old chick ens. It is assumed that it was due to the high feed consumption in thi s period. AP activity was significantly higher in the negative control , which is in accordance with Lopuchovsky (1964), Ameenudin et al. (19 85), Friedrich (1988). The results of total and differential leucocyte counts are shown in Tabs. III and IV. The number of leucocytes ranged from 20 to 43 (3/1. The higher values were obtained at the age of 28 days. The counts of monocytes were higher in all chickens. The increas e in monocyte counts influenced by the addition of vitamin D3 which wa s described by Aminenudin et al. (1985) and Porsova (1987) was not con firmed. As to the vitamin D3 effect, the white blood count changes wer e not significant. The obtained biochemical and haematological profile s suggest that all vitamin D3 supplements were comparable.