Effect of dietary supplementation of silicic acid powder containing bamboo vinegar on production performance, egg quality, intestinal microflora, and morphology of laying hens

摘要

This study investigated the effects of dietary inclusion of silicic acid powder containing bamboo vinegar liquid (SPV) on production performance, egg quality, intestinal microflora, and alterations of intestinal villi in laying hens. Eighty ISA Brown hens were randomly divided into four treatment groups, with five replicates per treatment and four hens per replicate. They were fed ad libitum, a basal diet supplemented with SPV at 0, 2, 4, or 6?g?kg~(?1) level, for 16?wk. Egg production significantly increased with the 2?g?kg~(?1) SPV diet for hens of 34–37?wk old, while egg mass was highest for hens fed the 2?g?kg~(?1) SPV diet in 38–41?wk age range ( P ? P ?>?0.10). In the ileal content, populations of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. tended to decrease in the SPV-supplemented groups compared with the control group ( P ? P ??0.05). The present results indicate that dietary SPV at 2?g?kg~(?1) could stimulate intestinal functions, decrease ileal pathogenic bacteria counts, and result in higher egg production performance.