Abstract
Broiler chickens grown to 6 wk of age, received water treatments of pH 5.75, 6.25, or 6.75 and nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) levels of 1.90, 2.72, 3.55, or 5.19 mg/L. Low NO3-N, 2.72 to 5.19 mg/L, depressed (P < .05) 6-wk body weights when averaged across all pH treatments (x = ph 6.25). The compounded effect of water pH 5.75 and low NO3-N levels of 3.55 or 5.19 mg/L significantly (P < .05) lowered broiler weights. Lowering the pH of the drinking water to 5.75 decreased water consumption (P < .05) and may have contributed to the lower body weights during the final finisher period. Thymus and spleen weights were reduced (P < .05) due to overall water nitrate treatment. As with body weights, thymus, liver, and spleen weights were lowest (P < .05) among birds consuming water of pH 5.75 or 5.19 mg/L NO3-N. This study shows that in the presence of low water pH (5.75) very low NO3-N levels (≤5.19 mg/L) will adversely affect broiler growth.
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