Considering the importance of drinking water and its effect on broiler performance, drinking water quality was studied using six different litter materials. The presence of coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli was investigated. The following litter materials were used in the trial: wood shavings, rice husks, chopped Napier grass (Pennisetum pupureum), 50% sugarcane bagasse (Saccharum L.) + 50% wood shavings, 50% sugarcane bagasse (Saccharum L.) + 50% rice husks, and plain sugarcane bagasse (Saccharum L.). A number of 1620 Ross ® one-dayold chicks were reared in 54 pens measuring 4.5 m 2 each, equipped with a bell drinker and a tube feeder. Water samples were collected in sterile tubes on days 28 and 42 of the rearing period, and submitted to the laboratory for analyses. Microbiological data were organized by classes expressed in a logarithm scale, where the lowest contamination corresponds to class 1 and the highest contamination to class 4. Results showed that total coliform contamination was higher on day 28 than in the end of the rearing period, and that E. coli presence was detected during both analyzed periods. The litter materials that presented lower degree of water contamination, predominantly class 1, were sugarcane bagasse and 50% of sugarcane bagasse and 50% of rice husks.
INTRODUCTIONPoultry production has grown in Brazil, and since 2007 an average of 10 million tons of chicken meat are annually produced per year, with approximately 70% sold in the domestic market and 30% as exports (UBA, 2008). Broiler production technology has improved during recent years, allowing production growth within the same built area (Proudfoot et al., 1979;Santos et al., 2000;Santos et al., 2005).The aim of using good litter material in broiler production is to prevent the direct contact of the bird with the floor and to promote the absorption of the fecal moisture. The use of appropriate litter also helps maintaining thermal environment balanced as it may reduce fermentation heat production in the rearing environment (Oliveira & Carvalho, 2002). Several materials have been used as litter, such as wood shavings and rice husks, and other materials, such as paper, peanut hulls, and sand have been studied as alternatives to reduce the use of wood and help preventing lumbering (Hernandes et al., 2002;Santos et al., 2000).Animals need to consume sufficient water to satisfy their requirements. However, more important than water quantity is water quality, as the hygienic and physical-chemical quality of drinking water plays a key role in ensuring efficient animal production (Amaral et al., 1999;Li, 2009). Water is involved in every aspect of poultry metabolism and plays an important role in body temperature regulation, food digestion, and body waste excretion (Valias & Silva, 2001 (Abbas et al., 2008;Li, 2009). Bacteria in drinking water may induce health problems, and consequent lack of welfare (Koelkebeck et al., 1999;Manning et al., 2007). Moreover, contaminants in drinking water can leave residues in animal produc...
