Impact of Environmental Temperatures on Feed and Water Consumption in Broilers and Layers in Commercial and Backyard Poultry Farms, Maiduguri, Borno State

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of environmental temperatures on feed intake and water consumption in broilers and layers across commercial and backyard poultry farms in Maiduguri, Borno State. Data were collected over six months from multiple farms, accounting for seasonal variations and management practices. The findings revealed significant differences in feed and water intake between commercial and backyard farms influenced by temperature fluctuations. Specifically, broilers showed higher sensitivity to temperature changes compared to layers. At temperatures below 25°C, broilers in commercial farms consumed significantly more feed (120 ± 0.5g) and less water (250 ± 0.3ml) compared to higher temperatures above 40°C where feed consumption decreased (100 ± 0.3g) and water intake increased (380 ± 0.6ml) (p < 0.05). Layers followed a similar trend with higher feed intake (110 ± 0.5g) at temperatures below 25°C and increased water consumption (350 ± 0.5ml) at temperatures above 40°C (p < 0.05). Comparative analysis indicated that commercial broilers had a significantly higher average feed intake during the rainy season (180 ± 0.5 g/day) compared to backyard broilers (120 ± 0.3 g/day, p < 0.05), with similar patterns observed during the hot dry season. In contrast, backyard broilers consumed more water (350 ± 0.6 ml/day) than commercial broilers (300 ± 0.4 ml/day) during the hot dry season (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that temperature management is crucial for optimizing poultry performance, with implications for different farming systems.