Production aspects of broiler breeders submitted to different drinker types

Lp Colvero,R Bernardi,Rpb Steffen,C Stefanello,As Carrijo,Rg Garófallo

doi:10.1590/s1516-635x2014000100009

Abstract

The objective of this study was of evaluate the influence of different drinker types on the egg production, water intake, mortality, poultry litter relative humidity, egg weight, eggshell percentage, and egg specific gravity of broiler breeders. The experiment was carried out in a commercial farm with 37- to 44-wk-old broiler breeders. A randomized block experimental design, consisting of two treatments (bell or nipple drinkers) with four replicates of 4.000 females each, was applied. Data were submitted to analysis of variance, and means were compared by the test of Student-Newman-Keuls at 5% significance level. Birds submitted to nipple drinkers presented lower water intake (p 0.05) of drinker type on egg production or mortality. Poultry litter relative humidity was lower (p<0.05) under the nipple-drinker system. Birds drinking from bell drinkers produced heavier eggs (p<0.05) between weeks 39 and 40. Hens drinking from bell drinkers laid eggs with higher specific gravity and eggshell percentage. It was concluded that nipple drinkers can be used for broiler breeders during lay.

Highlights

Poultry production has greatly developed in Brazil during the last decades, and chicken meat is one of the main exports products in the country
There was no influence of drinker type on egg production during the evaluated period (Table 1)
Breeders drinking from nipple drinkers presented significantly lower water intake relative to body weight compared with the bell drinkers during the evaluated weeks

Summary

Introduction

Poultry production has greatly developed in Brazil during the last decades, and chicken meat is one of the main exports products in the country. This progress has fostered research aiming at improving live performance, studies on the formulation of low-cost diets, since feeding represents the largest cost in poultry production (Carneiro et al, 2009). Considering all nutrients, water is often overlooked and subject of few studies It plays essential metabolic roles, such as body temperature control, feed digestion and absorption, and excretion of waste products in the urine, and should be supplied in sufficient amounts and adequate quality to animals (Quichimbo et al, 2013). It plays essential metabolic roles, such as body temperature control, feed digestion and absorption, and excretion of waste products in the urine, and should be supplied in sufficient amounts and adequate quality to animals (Quichimbo et al, 2013). Watkins (2002) states that poultry performance is directly related with the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of water supply.

Objectives

Methods

Results