Effects of Two Nipple Drinker Types with Different Flow Rates on the Productive Performance of Broiler Chickens During Summerlike Growing Conditions

Abstract

Three trials were conducted to study the effects of a high flow volume (2.3 mL/s) nipple waterer (HFN) versus a low flow volume (.4 mL/s) nipple waterer (LFN) on the productive performance of broiler chickens as measured by average body weight (kilograms), average feed conversion (kilograms:kilogram), and percentage mortality rate. Equal numbers of male and female birds were used during Trial 1; only male birds were used during Trials 2 and 3. All trials were conducted during the summer months. An attempt was made during Trial 2 to expose the birds to artificial heat stress. No differences were seen during any of the trials in feed conversion between the two treatments. In Trial 1 the only significant difference (P less than or equal to .05) exhibited was in average male body weight (1.87 kg HFN; 1.84 kg LFN). A highly significant difference (P less than or equal to .01) was seen in average body weight (1.75 kg HFN; 1.64 kg LFN) during Trial 2. Average body weight difference during Trial 3 was highly significant at 42 days of age but not at Day 49. Mortality rate figures during Trial 2 indicate a highly significant difference during the 38-day period prior to heat stress (2.2% LFN; .4% HFN), and significant difference during the heat stress period (38 to 44 days; 2.9% LFN; 1.5% HFN). During Trial 3 mortality rate differences were significant by 49 days (20.6% LFN; 11.4% HFN) although there was no difference at 42 days.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Drinking water as a risk factor to poultry health

“…Open water supplies, such as troughs and bell drinkers, may present high contamination levels of 10 7 and 10 4 per mL for mesophiles and fecal coliforms (Carr et al, 1988). In the closed system (nipple), the quality of the water offered to the birds is better protected and there are no deleterious effects on bird performance compared to the open systems (Carpenter et al, 1992). Amaral et al (1999) and Amaral et al (2001) observed significant differences in Escherichia coli numbers when open and closed drinkers were compared in broiler and laying hen farms.…”