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Water Pressure And Broilers’ Performance
Water pressure: How
does it affect broilers’ consumption, performance?
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Low-pressure water systems designed to reduce
water usage have some poultry growers turning up the pressure to hydrate flocks
and improve bird performance, but is this a sound practice economically?
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That was
the focus of a recent study by the University of Georgia. “Many growers
are trying to increase water pressure to get more water to their birds,” Brian
Fairchild, PhD, University of Georgia, told Poultry Health Today.
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Together with graduate research assistant Cody
Compton Brown, he looked at water usage versus water pressure in a commercial
poultry barn. Then they followed up with a controlled trial at the university.
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Both studies found that birds exposed to
increased water pressure showed improved performance. However, wet litter
problems were the trade-off.
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“In the controlled trial at UGA, we were able to show that during the
final week of broiler production, increased water pressure improved feed
consumption, feed-conversion ratios and weight gain by 111 grams (0.24 lb),
with minimal effect on litter quality,” Brown explained.
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However, Brown added, increasing the water
pressure can also increase litter-moisture levels, which has the potential to
adversely affect paw quality.
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Furthermore,
Fairchild cautioned that in addition to compromising bird welfare, wet litter
could increase ammonia and disease levels. “It’s best to minimize those
effects whenever possible,” he said.
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According
to Brown and Fairchild, the trick is to limit increased water pressure to the
last week of production.
“It’s important to note that the birds don’t take advantage of the
extra water until the final week of production,” Fairchild
said.
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“The difference between water usage — what goes through the
water meter, and water consumption — what goes through the bird — is
an important distinction.”
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