CLEAN DRINKING WATER IS ESSENTIAL FOR PROFITABLE POULTRY PRODUCTION
Of all the nutrients available to the chicken, water is the most essential. It is even more important than protein or energy. If a chicken does not drink, or water intake is limited, (for example blocked nipples or contaminated drinking water), problems will occur immediately. Typically, lower feed intake, poor feed conversion and dehydration, will mean growth slows or even stops. Because chickens drink more than twice and often 3 times the amount of feed they consume the importance of a constant supply of good clean drinking water is obvious. Water is an ideal environment for the growth of disease causing pathogens. When nutrients are present in the water, pathogens multiply rapidly. As an example, bacteria need only 30 minutes to multiply in those conditions. Overnight, when birds rest and do not drink, there is plenty of time for microorganisms to heavily contaminate the water. A good example is the entero bacteria/colibacteria organism. One trial showed when drinking water was sampled in the evening only 100 bacteria per mL (cc) of drinking water was found. However, the following morning the count had increased to 5,000,000 per mL (cc) water. When birds start drinking in the morning disease can easily be spread through the house and between houses if the waterlines are inter connected. Table 1 clearly shows how microorganisms can quickly multiply. Table.1 Aerobic bacteria levels (CFU/mL(cc)) In poultry drinking water Farm
At source
End of line
A B C D
2,700 203,000 600 0
26,600 2,340,000 282,000 4,775,000
The most common nutrients in the water are dirt and small feed particles. Often overlooked however are the water-soluble additives used in poultry drinking water. Many of these products have components that form a bio-film inside the water line. Some even contain sugar or sugar derivatives all of which are an excellent feeding medium for microbes. Š
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