Ducks produced more egg per gram of feed if add Vitamin D (3200 IU per kg of dry feed) – Aug 2024

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Dietary supplementation with 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 regulates productive performance, lipid metabolism and gut microbiota in aged laying ducks

Anim Nutr. 2024 Aug 22:19:90-103. doi: 10.1016/j.aninu.2024.04.029
Yongyan Jin 1, Huanting Xia 1, Wei Chen 1, Xuebing Huang 1, Kaichao Li 1, Shuang Wang 1, Weiguan Xia 1, Shenglin Wang 1, Chang Zhang 1, Yanan Zhang 1, Chuntian Zheng 1

FCR = Feed Conversion Ratio

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) on productive performance, lipid metabolism and gut microbiota in aged laying ducks. A total of 432 healthy Longyan ducks at 60-week of age were randomly allotted to 6 groups, each with 6 replicates of 12 ducks. Ducks were given a basal diet (without added 25(OH)D3) or that diet supplemented with 800, 1600, 2400, 3200, or 4000 IU/kg 25(OH)D3 for a total of 16 wk. Dietary supplementation with 25(OH)D3 improved egg production, egg mass and average daily feed intake, and decreased the feed conversion ratio (FCR) of ducks during the whole trial period (linear, quadratic; P < 0.05). Supplementation with 25(OH)D3 decreased very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) content in yolk (P = 0.008), decreased high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) content in plasma (P = 0.002). Hepatic index, VLDL, LDL, triglyceride and total cholesterol content in liver, nonalcoholic fatty liver activity score of liver and alanine aminotransferase activity in plasma were decreased with supplementation of 25(OH)D3 (linear or quadratic; P < 0.05). The decreased hepatic apolipoprotein B 100 and lipoprotein lipase expression, and increased hepatic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 expression resulted from 25(OH)D3 supplementation (linear, quadratic; P < 0.05). Moreover, 25(OH)D3 supplementation increased the villus/crypt ratio (linear, quadratic; P < 0.05) and expression of zonula occludens protein 1 and nuclear factor-κ-gene binding in duodenum (P < 0.05). The supplementation of 25(OH)D3 reduced the abundance of Wittenberg polluted soil-2 bacteria, Synergistota, Bacteroidales, Colidextribacter, Eggerthellaceae, Oscillospira, Oscillibacter, UCG-009, Barnesiellaceae and Lachnospiraceae_UCG-010 in cecal contents (P < 0.05). Dietary requirements for 25(OH)D3 for ducks (60 to 76 wk), were estimated to be 3377 IU/kg for egg production, 3434 IU/kg for egg mass, and 3256 IU/kg for FCR. In summary, dietary 25(OH)D3 supplementation improved productive performance and influenced liver and plasma lipid homeostasis in aged laying ducks, which may be associated with the reduction of bacteria involved in carbohydrate metabolism in the cecum. Supplementing the basal diet with 3250 to 3450 IU/kg 25(OH)D3 is recommended for aged laying ducks (60 to 76 wk).
 Download the PDF from VitaminDWiki

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Note: Humans consume 1 to 2 kg of dry-weight food daily (3200 - 6,400 IU of Vitamin D)

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VitaminDWiki - Overview Veterinary and vitamin D contains:

Veterinary category has 154 items

Animals need Vitamin D too

• Vitamin D is important for pregnancies (pigs as well as people)– Sept 2022
• Many Vitamin D similarities: people and cows - March 2022
• Several advanced-maternal-age problems reduced if given Vitamin D during pregnancy (mice in this case) – July 2021
• Poor immune system associated with low Vitamin D (dogs in this case) – June 2020
• Chicken bones, eggs, and activated vitamin D in eggs increased with 2 hours of daily UVB – Dec 2019
• Vitamin D in eggs increased 4X after UV lighting near legs was added – April 2019
• Hens with Vitamin D were better in at least 5 ways – RCT Aug 2018

Pets as well

• Critically ill dogs with good levels of vitamin D have much better outcomes (humans too) – March 2018
• Half of dogs now get cancer, it used to be just 1 percent (probably low Vitamin D)
• Dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, pet birds, etc need Vitamin D
• Dogs with Cancer have low vitamin D, same as humans – Sept 2017
• Companion animals (dog, cats) need vitamin D too – March 2016
• Hospitalized cats 8X more likely to die if low vitamin D (Vit. D helps humans too) – May 2015
• Rickets increasing in dogs

Farm Vets are paid when their "patients" are healthy,
   vs doctors who are paid only when "patients" become sick
Cows are routinely given 30 IU per kilogram (which would be 10,000 IU for a 150 lb person)
Same information is available on Cattle need 66 IU of vitamin D per pound
The US RDA of vitamin D for cows is 13 IU per kilogram (which would be 4,300 IU for a 150 lb 'cow')
Virtually all US farmers who raise livestock use feed that is supplemented with vitamin D
Merick Vet Manual supplement if not have UV or sunlight