The effect of sodium fluoride and sodium silicate on growth and bone strength of broilers

Two experiments were conducted using 300 broilers each. Standard broiler diets were supplemented by adding to the drinking water either sodium fluoride or sodium meta-silicate. Sodium fluoride provided 120 ppm Na and 100 ppm F and 120 ppm Na and 74 ppm Si were provided by the sodium silicate. Control groups received tap water. All groups received a standard corn-soybean meal diet and drinking water ad libitum. All broilers were reared in floor pens, and hardwood shavings were used for bedding. Live weights and feed conversion were determined every 2 weeks. Growth rates, feed conversions, and mortality were not affected by the sodium salts in either experiment. Litter conditions in the pens were closely observed, and no differences were found resulting from the addition of either sodium salt to the drinking water. A significant decrease in humeri strength was observed when one wing of broilers in the control and sodium fluoride treated groups was immobilized with tape during the last 2 weeks of each experiment. This loss of strength was not significant in the sodium silicate group. In both experiments, breaking strength and ash content of humeri and tibiae were significantly increased in birds fed the sodium fluoride when compared to the control group. The sodium silicate group yielded intermediate results.