EFFECTS OF DIETARY SILICON OXIDE LEVELS ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND FEET WELFARE OF BROILER CHICKS

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of silicon oxide supplementation on growth performance of broiler chicks reared from 0 to 21 days. A total of 120 mixed sex day-old chicks were allocated to 12 pens and assigned to 4 dietary treatments with three replicates in a Completely Randomized Design. Treatments were as follows: Treatment A was basal diet without silicon oxide supplement; Treatment B was basal diet supplemented with 10mg silicon oxide/100kg diet; Treatment C was basal diet supplemented with 20mg silicon oxide /100kg diet and Treatment D was basal diet supplemented with 30mg silicon oxide/100kg diet silicon oxide. Dietary treatments had significant (P<0.05) differences on feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and feed cost per kg weight gain.Wet litter was not observed across the treatment groups. Hence, no footpad dermatitis and toe damage was noticed. Chicks fed 20g silicon oxide/100kg diet had the best results for weight gain and feed conversion ratio.