title: Effects of a silica-based feed supplement on performance, health, and litter quality of growing turkeys.
abstract: Poor litter quality is a potential challenge to footpad health as well as the primary cause of ammonia volatilization. High ambient ammonia concentration is one of the most significant factors negatively affecting poultry production today. Some minerals have been reported to reduce ammonia release from poultry litter. Silicon dioxide, a highly pure and natural mineral, shows promise in decreasing ammonia volatilization and improving litter quality. The objective of the current study was to investigate the effects of feed-borne silicon dioxide on litter quality and how this impacts bird performance, general health and footpad health throughout a 12-wk posthatching turkey study. Supplementing the diet with silicon dioxide was found to significantly improve turkey BW gain and the efficiency of feed conversion. The severity of footpad dermatitis was monitored throughout the experimental period but no significant effect of diet was seen. The feeding of silicon dioxide reduced litter pH which decreased the conversion of NH4⁺ to NH3 thereby reducing nitrogen losses from litter. It was concluded that, under our study conditions, the feeding of 0.02% silicon dioxide offers potential economic benefits to turkey producers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal & Poultry Science, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1.
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal & Poultry Science, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Bowman
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal & Poultry Science, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1 tsmith@uoguelph.ca.
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005430:Floors and Floorcoverings; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000662:veterinary; D006799:Housing, Animal; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014422:Turkeys / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D012822:Silicon Dioxide
keywords: ammonia; litter; silicon dioxide; turkey