Significant increase in fracture force

• Poultry supplemented with Poulsil showed a notable increase in the minimum force required to cause bone fractures. Birds receiving 31.8 mg/kg and 47.5 mg/kg of Poulsil in their feed exhibited fracture forces of 412.9 N and 403.1 N, respectively.
• In comparison, the control group had a fracture force of 365.9 N. This indicates that these birds have stronger, more resilient bones.

Dose-dependent improvement

• The study demonstrates a clear dose-dependent improvement in bone strength. Higher doses of Poulsil lead to better outcomes. 
• The most significant increases were seen at higher inclusion levels of 31.8 mg/kg and 47.5 mg/kg. This highlights the effectiveness of higher Poulsil supplementation.

Enhanced bone health

• Consistent improvements in bone strength across various doses of Poulsil supplementation suggest that bio-available silicium from Poulsil plays a crucial role in enhancing overall bone health in poultry.
• This leads to a reduced risk of fractures and skeletal issues. Ultimately, this contributes to better welfare and productivity in poultry farming.

Enhanced Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR)

• The study reveals a noteworthy enhancement in the Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) for poultry receiving Poulsil supplementation.
• Birds in the control group exhibited an FCR of 1.796, whereas those provided with 15.9 mg/kg, 31.8 mg/kg, and 47.5 mg/kg of Poulsil displayed improved FCR values of 1.724, 1.77, and 1.733, respectively.
• This indicates that Poulsil-fed birds efficiently convert feed into body mass, resulting in enhanced growth performance.

Optimal dosage for performance

• The data emphasizes that even at the lowest supplementation level of 15.9 mg/kg, Poulsil significantly boosts feed efficiency.
• Enhancements are also observed at higher doses (31.8 mg/kg and 47.5 mg/kg), highlighting Poulsil’s effectiveness in improving feed utilization and overall poultry performance.

Improved resting behaviour

• Witness a notable enhancement in mean resting behaviour among birds supplemented with Poulsil. For example, birds receiving 1.48 mg/l Si displayed a mean resting behaviour score of 2.0, contrasting with the untreated challenged group’s score of 3.2.
• This shift signifies that Poulsil supplementation fosters increased comfort and reduced stress levels in poultry.

Dose-dependent benefits

• The trial showcases a dose-dependent upsurge in welfare standards.
  Higher Poulsil doses, such as 4.33 mg/l and 1.48 mg/l, yielded more favourable resting behaviour scores compared to lower doses or the untreated counterparts.
• This trend points towards the efficacy of elevated Poulsil concentrations in elevating bird welfare.

Overall welfare enhancement

• Birds in the untreated unchallenged cohort exhibited optimal welfare, with a resting behaviour score of 1.1 serving as the baseline. Notably, Poulsil supplementation, especially at higher doses, significantly narrowed the gap between challenged and unchallenged birds.
• This underscores Poulsil’s effectiveness in alleviating the impacts of gouty arthritis induced by sodium urate injections, ultimately leading to enhanced overall welfare and performance in poultry.