UTILIZATION OF FLUOR AS A GROWTH PROMOTOR FOR BROILER DIETS - BONE AND MORPHOMETRIC INDEXES

The effect of fluor on bone and morfometric indices of the gastrointes tinal tract of 250 E-24 hybrid broilers of both sexes fed maize or whe at diets was studied. In the first paper 120 animals were used in a co mpletely randomized design and were supplemented with 0, 100, 200 and 300 ppm of fluor in the form of NaF. In the second experiment 130 broi lers were employed in a similar design and the treatments were 0, 10, 20, 40 and 80 ppm of fluor where each animal was a replication. No sig nificant differences for bone concentrations of ash, Ca, P, Na and K w ere found, but fluor concentrations were significantly (P < 0.001) inc reased from 381 to 3165 ppm as the level of this element augmented in the ration. The physical measurements of the femur did not differ betw een treatments end a significant increase (P < 0.001) in the metatarsu s density was found. Abdominal fat was increased with the level of flu or while crop and liverweights tended to decrease (P < 0.05). It was c onfirmed that the inclusion of fluor in the diet for broilers markedly increased the content of this mineral in the bone while the organs of the digestive tract were less modified.