Regular monitoring of broiler drinking-water consumption helps track flock health and performance. A sudden dip or downward trend can alert the producer to potentially serious health or production problems.
Unfortunately, most of the scientific data in this area is decades old, and even the most recent data does not account for important advances in broiler genetics, housing and production technology, particularly drinkers.
According to traditional measure — water volume per 1,000 birds per week — today’s broilers, including heavy broilers, are seemingly consuming more water than their predecessors. However, a joint study conducted by Auburn University and the USDA-ARS Poultry Research Unit at Mississippi State University demonstrated that broilers are actually consuming less water per bodyweight and may be more water-efficient.
The study results were reported in the Journal of Applied Research.
History of water consumption data
Water is an essential nutrient and vital for metabolic functions. In broilers, for example, water consumption (WC) is critical for controlling body temperature.
The relationship between WC and bodyweight (BW) is key. But given advancements in genetics, new production technology and a broad range of broiler target weights, there is a dearth of up-to-date WC data.
In the 1990s, National Research Council (NRC) recommendations used data compiled from studies that raised broilers from 5 to 9 weeks, summarizing weekly WC values.1 However, the NRC cautioned that the reported data varied depending on in-house air temperature, diet, growth rate and equipment used in the studies.
In 2013, researchers reported differences in WC for broilers grown to 6 weeks, raised under comparable commercial conditions during 1991, 2000 to 2001 and 2010 to 2011. They concluded that WC had significantly increased — approximately 1,980 liters/1,000 birds (523 gallons/1,000 birds) over that 20-year test period — suggesting that the NRC guidelines appeared to be behind the times.
The authors of the current study noted that, while WC increased over the past 30 years, water wastage decreased, thanks in large part to the industry transitioning from open, bowl-type waterers to closed nipple-type drinkers.
“There is, however,” the research team wrote, “a lack of information within the literature regarding (heavy) broilers…under commercially relevant conditions.”
Study design
In this study, the researchers conducted two trials (Flock 1 for winter conditions and Flock 2 for summer conditions) using a tunnel-ventilated research facility at the USDA Poultry Research Unit in Starkville, Mississippi. They provided ad libitum water and feed, checking for mortalities daily and not replacing birds, per industry practice. Each flock started with 2,160 Ross 708 straight run broiler chicks obtained from a commercial hatchery and grown to 63 days with a target weight of 4.1 kg (9.02 pounds).
Pens mimicked a commercial housing setup, with the environment maintained using an electronic environmental controller that reported in-house air temperature, lighting intensity, photoperiod and ventilation. Broilers received rations through a mechanical auger feedline system installed in the center of each pen, with load cells weighing feed delivery.
Flanking the feedline were two gravity-fed commercial drinker lines using a nipple system and drip trays. Drinker “density” followed the primary breeder’s recommendation: nine birds per nipple for birds over 3 kg (6.6 pounds). A scale and datalogger system measured water weights (kg), reporting daily WC as liters/1,000 birds with adjustments made for pen mortality.
Key takeaways
In general, the researchers found that daily WC increased with broiler age, which was consistent with similar trends observed in previous research. A drop in daily WC during a “disease event” was likewise consistent, with the researchers noting that “Daily WC can be an indicator of a disease outbreak.”
Mortality in Flock 1 (winter, 3.7%) was lower than in Flock 2 (summer, 4.6%), and Flock 1 BW was greater for weeks 2 to 9. While both flocks exceeded the target weight of 4.1 kg at week 9, the winter-reared birds were heavier by more than 930 grams/bird (2.05 pounds/bird).
“Elevated environmental temperatures likely contributed to lower Flock 2 BW,” the researchers reported, although they also noted a spike in flock mortality in week 2, attributed to runting-stunting syndrome and septicemia due to Escherichia coli infection.
“While cumulative WC was greater for Flock 1 (15,276 L/1,000 birds) compared to Flock 2 (13,982 L/1,000 birds), differences in means between the two flocks were not statistically significant,” the researchers concluded.
What does this study mean for producers?
- Monitor WC of broilers — ideally daily — to detect early signs of disease or other performance-robbing conditions.
- Consider using WC in conjunction with BW to calculate the WC:BW ratio (mL of WC to kg of BW), which will help track changes due to genetics, equipment and health interventions.
- Watch for future broiler WC studies to include additional data on BW, environmental set-points, in-house air temperature, lighting photoperiod and intensity, diet composition by feeding phase, drinking system technology, etc.
The full paper, “Water consumption trends for commercial broilers grown to nine weeks,” can be found in the Journal of Applied Poultry Research and online here.
Reference
1. National Research Council. Nutrient Requirements of Poultry. 9th ed, Natl. Acad. Press, Washington, DC. 1994.
Editor’s note: Content on Modern Poultry’s Industry Insights pages is provided and/or commissioned by our sponsors, who assume full responsibility for its accuracy and compliance.
