Effects of vitamins K1 and K3 addition to diets with calcium deficiency on performance and physicochemical indicators of tibia bone in Japanese quails

Effects of vitamins K1 and K3 addition to a low calcium diet on the structure of tibia bone and performance of Japanese quail were evaluated by using 192 birds in a completely randomized design with four treatments, four replicates and 12 birds per each. The treatments included: diet containing the recommended level of calcium (control), low calcium diet (70% of recommended level), low calcium + vitamin K1, and low calcium diet + vitamin K3. The quails consumed a greater amount of calcium deficiency diet (P<0.05). Feed intake decreased by supplementing diets by vitamin K1. The live weight of birds fed low calcium diet was lower than control birds (P<0.05). The live body weight and FCR improved by supplementing low calcium diet with K1 or K3 (P<0.05). Maximum diameter of diaphysis increased in birds fed on diet containing K3, but the minimum diameter of diaphysis increased by feeding diets containing K1 or K3 (P<0.05). The bone middle canal increased in birds fed low calcium diet (P<0.05). There had no difference in bone middle canal between birds fed on diet containing K1and control diet. In birds fed K1 supplemented diet the bone ash weight was lower and length of bone was higher than those fed on diets containing K3 (P<0.05).According to the these results, addition vitamin K1 to low calcium diet improves the growth performance and bone physical properties in female quails.