title: Silicon in broiler drinking water promotes bone development in broiler chickens.
abstract: Skeletal abnormalities, bone deformities and fractures cause significant losses in broiler production during both rearing and processing. Silicon is an essential mineral for bone and connective tissue synthesis and for calcium absorption during the early stages of bone formation. Performance was not affected by the addition of silicon. However, broilers receiving silicon showed a significant increase of phosphorus, zinc, copper, manganese and ash in the tibia. In conclusion, broiler performance was not impaired by adding the tested silicon product to the drinking water. In addition, bone development improved, as demonstrated by higher mineral and ash content. Further studies are required to determine the optimal concentration of silicon, including heat stress simulations, to better understand the effects of silicon on bone development.
authors.affiliation: a College of Agricultural Sciences , Federal University of Grande Dourados , Dourados , Brazil.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sgavioli
authors.affiliation: b Department of Morphology and Animal Physiology , São Paulo State University , Jaboticabal , Brazil.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: de Faria Domingues
authors.affiliation: b Department of Morphology and Animal Physiology , São Paulo State University , Jaboticabal , Brazil.
authors.forename: D M C
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Castiblanco
authors.affiliation: b Department of Morphology and Animal Physiology , São Paulo State University , Jaboticabal , Brazil.
authors.forename: M F F M
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Praes
authors.affiliation: b Department of Morphology and Animal Physiology , São Paulo State University , Jaboticabal , Brazil.
authors.forename: Giuliana M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Andrade-Garcia
authors.affiliation: b Department of Morphology and Animal Physiology , São Paulo State University , Jaboticabal , Brazil.
authors.forename: E T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: b Department of Morphology and Animal Physiology , São Paulo State University , Jaboticabal , Brazil.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Baraldi-Artoni
authors.affiliation: a College of Agricultural Sciences , Federal University of Grande Dourados , Dourados , Brazil.
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.affiliation: c Regional Jataí, College of Agricultural Sciences , Federal University of Goiás , Jataí , Brazil.
authors.forename: O M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Junqueira
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D001846:Bone Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012825:Silicon / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water; D008903:Minerals; C028705:bone ash; D012825:Silicon