Effectiveness of silicon-containing additives in poultry feeding

The scientists of the Volgograd State Agrarian University and Samara State Agrarian University carried out research on the use of bio-soluble silicon form as a part of the «NaBiKat» additive in various concentrations in the rations of pullets and egg-laying hens in conditions of the Volgograd region at the facilities of Volzhskaya Poultry Farm CJSC in 2015- 2019. For the experiment, the birds were selected by the method of similar groups (control and three experimental). The control group poultry received a standard ration; the additive was additionally added to the feed of experimental groups 1, 2 and 3 in a concentration of 0.12%, 0.15% and 0.17%, respectively, depending on the fodder weight. The digestibility of dry matter in the body of young and adult laying hens was higher in the experimental groups compared to the control, by 1.82% and 1.79%, 3.13% and 3.08%, 1.97% and 1.93, respectively. The use of the silicon-containing polyadditive “NaBiKat” in various dosages contributed to the increase in pullets’ live weight by the end of the experiment by 4.15–4.35%, and to egg productivity of hens - by 0.56% -1.37%. At the same time, there was a decrease in costs for a dozen eggs and 1 kg of egg mass.