DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF SILICON OXIDE ON CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS AND LITTER QUALITY OF BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of silicon oxide on carcass characteristics and litter quality of broiler chickens. In total, 120mixed sex Abor Acre broiler chicks were distributed according to a completely randomized design. The control group was fed a diet without silicon oxide, while treatments 2-4 were fed diets supplemented with 10, 20 and 30g/100kg silicon oxide respectively. At the end of the starter (0-3 weeks) and finisher (4-7 weeks) phases, litter samples were collected at random from different locations from all the replicates and scored for litter quality test. Also at the end of the finisher phase three birds per replicate were selected on the basis of weights for carcass characteristic study. Silicon oxide supplementation improved broiler carcass characteristics, as shown by higher breast, back, thigh, drumstick, shank, and gizzard weights. Chickens fed silicon oxide supplemented diets had significantly (p<0.05) better carcass characteristics compared with those chickens fed diet without silicon oxide. Litter quality and abdominal fat were not influenced by the treatments. It was concluded that carcass characteristics of broiler chickens were better in birds fed 20g silicon oxide /100kg diet compared to chickens fed without silicon oxide.