Effect of silicon oxide supplementation in broiler chickens' drinking water on performance and litter quality under tropical environment

Abstract

The present study was conducted to determine the effect of silicon oxide in broiler chickens drinking water on performance and litter quality. A total of 120, one-day old mixed sex broiler chicks were randomly divided into 4 treatments and 3 replications, with 10 birds in each replicate in a completely randomised experimental design, with 4 silicon levels (0.00, 1.50, 2.00 and 2.50 mg of silicon oxide/litre of water. Corn-soya based diets were formulated at the starter (0–4 weeks) and finisher (5–8weeks) phases and were supplied ad libitum with free access to water. The average daily temperature and relative humidity inside the poultry house were 35.9 °C and 36%, respectively. At the starter phase, chicks administered 2.00mg silicon oxide/litre of water had significantly (p<0.05) higher final body weight (991.00g) and average weight gain (950.96g) compared to chicks without silicon oxide 778.57 g and 738.54g. The inclusion of 2.00 mg silicon oxide/litre of water improved feed conversion ratio compared to the control group (p < 0.05) and significantly reduced feed cost per kg gain. For the finisher phase, chickens administered 2.00mg silicon oxide/litre of water had the best results for final weight, weight gain and feed cost per kg gain. Also, inclusion of silicon oxide in broiler chickens water improved litter quality as predominantly dry material but with some areas of wet shavings was observed. In conclusion, silicon oxide in broiler chickens drinking water at 2.00mg/litre of water enhanced growth performance, improved feed conversion ratio and litter quality as well as reduced feed cost per kg gain at the starter and finisher phases respectively.