Effects of Vitamins D3, A, and K3 Administration on Productive Performance, Egg Quality, and Tibia Mineralization in Aged Japanese Quails

Document Type : Original Paper

Authors

Department of Animal Sciences, Agriculture Faculty, Lorestan University, Lorestan, Iran

10.22069/psj.2026.24092.2417

Abstract

This study was performed to investigate the single and interactive effects of vitamins D3 (0 and 6300 IU), A (0 and 23100 IU) and K3 (0, 17 and 34 mg) on performance, egg quality and tibia mineralization using 300 breeder Japanese quails at 40 weeks of age. Vitamin preparations were injected subcutaneously (SC) in the back of the neck of birds weekly. Vitamin A significantly increased egg production, egg number, and egg mass (P < 0.05). Vitamin D3 significantly increased egg weight, yolk color index, yolk weight, and shell thickness compared with the ivergedcontrol birds (P < 0.05). Vitamin K3 (34 mg) significantly improved egg weight, yolk color index, yolk weight, and shell thickness compared to the control birds (P < 0.05). Proximal epiphysis and diaphysis diameter of the right tibia bone and its ash percentage were significantly superior in the vitamin D3 injected birds by 4.3, 4.9 and 9.3 percent, respectively (P<0.05). Robustness index (RI) was significantly greater in the vitamin D3-treated birds compared with the corresponding control group (P<0.05). Tibia ash content showed a moderate positive correlation with tibia length (r=0.43) and a negative moderate relation with the robustness index. Serum PTH and ALK activity showed a weak and a moderated correlation coefficient with tibia ash percentage, respectively. No significant effects were noticed for D3 × A, D3 × K3, A × K3 and  A × D3 × K3 interactions for the features assessed (P>0.05). It was concluded that the fat-soluble vitamins evaluated improved certain and different aspects of performance and egg quality in aged quails. However, among them, Vitamin D3 may have promising effects on bone strength and mineralization evidenced by greater tibia ash percentage as well as superior proximal epiphyses and diaphysis diameter in the birds receiving 6300 IU vitamin D3 through weekly SC injection.

Keywords

References

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Poultry Science Journal
Volume 14, Issue 2
November 2026
Pages 179-190

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