Drinking Water Quality Management for Broiler Performance and Carcass Characteristics

Naser Amir Ebrahimi, Ali Nobakht, Hakan İnci, Valiollah Palangi, Marian Suplata and Maximilian Lackner ()
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Naser Amir Ebrahimi: Department of Animal Science, Islamic Azad University, Maragheh Branch, Maragheh 12000, Iran
Ali Nobakht: Department of Animal Science, Islamic Azad University, Maragheh Branch, Maragheh 12000, Iran
Hakan İnci: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Bingol University, 12000 Bingol, Türkiye
Valiollah Palangi: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ege University, 35100 Izmir, Türkiye
Marian Suplata: Faculty of Management, Comenius University in Bratislava, Odbojárov 10, 82005 Bratislava, Slovakia
Maximilian Lackner: Faculty of Management, Comenius University in Bratislava, Odbojárov 10, 82005 Bratislava, Slovakia

World, 2024, vol. 5, issue 4, 1-10

Abstract: Objective: This study aimed to assess the impact of water quality as determined by its physical, chemical, and biological composition collected from five distinct points in Maragheh, Iran, on the performance and carcass traits of Ross-308 commercial broilers (mix of male and female) during the grower (11–24 days) and finisher (25–42 days) periods. Materials and methods: A total of 240 broilers were involved in the study, divided into five treatments with four replicates and 12 birds per replicate. In this study, a randomized design was used. Water samples were collected from five different points, and broilers were provided with these water sources during the grower and finisher periods. Water samples for testing were prepared from the water wells of the meat poultry farms located in the northern, eastern, western, and southern lands, and the experimental farm, using hygienic and scientific methods. Performance parameters, including body weight, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and water intake, were measured. Results: During the grower period, no significant effects on performance and water intake were observed across the different water sources ( p > 0.05). However, in the finisher period, significant differences were noted ( p ≥ 0.05). The use of water from point A (control group) led to reduced water consumption, body weight, and increased FCR ( p < 0.05). The northern water source exhibited the optimum FCR during the finisher period ( p < 0.05). Throughout the entire experimental period, the water source significantly influenced broiler performance, with the northern water source (point B) corresponding with the highest weight gain and production index with the least feed intake ( p < 0.05). Despite these variations, no significant changes were observed in the broilers’ carcass traits across different water sources ( p ≥ 0.05). Conclusions: In conclusion, the study revealed that various drinking water sources, while not significantly impacting carcass quality traits, exerted notable effects on broilers’ performance. The northern water source emerged as particularly favorable, demonstrating superior weight gain and a production index with efficient feed utilization. These findings underscore the importance of water quality in poultry management, particularly during the finisher period, and highlight its potential influence on broiler performance.

Keywords: chicken; production index; drinking; birds (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: G15 G17 G18 L21 L22 L25 L26 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 R51 R52 R58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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