Effect of bromine and iodine in drinking water on production parameters of broilers

Abstract

Levels of bromine (Br) in groundwater that exceeded guideline concentrations of 0.01 mg/L prompted the investigation of the effect Br and iodine (I) in drinking water on the production parameters of broilers. The research was done over a 42-day growth period, post-hatch, in which the trial design was: Control: 0 mg Br/L and 0 mg I/L; 1 mg Br/L and 0 mg I/L; 3 mg Br/L and 0 mg I/L; 0 mg Br/L and 0.7 mg I/L; 1 mg Br/L and 0.7 mg I/L; 3 mg Br/L and 0.7 mg I/L, by 3 replicates with 30 birds/replicate, using mixed Ross broiler chickens. Br and I were administered as NaBr and KI. Mortalities, water and feed intakes were recorded daily and live weight once a week. Average daily gains and feed conversion rations were calculated. Different treatments of Br, irrespective of I, decreased water and feed intake significantly. The interaction of Br and I had no significant effect on intake of water or feed. I had an effective ameliorating effect on Br. Bromine administered at 1 and 3 mg Br/L or at ingestion rates of 1.59 and 4.44 mg Br/day affected production parameters.

Iodine as an alleviator of bromine toxicity in thyroid, liver and kidney of broiler chickens

“…The administration of 10, 50 and 100 mg Br/L for 16 or 60 days resulted in marked hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the thyroid gland, micro follicular rearrangement and lower colloid volume. A sub-clinical condition due to Br could have had a detrimental effect on the chickens as shown by the effect on production parameters (Du Toit and Casey, 2010) that might be observed clinically after a longer period of exposure. The concern with a subclinical condition is that the lack of observable adverse effects can create the impression that the water has no possible hazardous effect, i.e.…”

“…The housing, management and nutrient composition of the starter (ME/kg DM 11.2), finisher (ME/kg DM 11.4) and post-finisher (11.6 ME/kg DM) broiler diets were as described by du Toit and Casey (2010). Water was delivered from graduated cylinders via bell drinkers for accurate measuring of water intake.…”

“…The risk of exposure to Br levels > 0.01 mg/L on livestock was reaffirmed (Du Toit and Casey, 2010). Broilers were exposed to balanced combinations of 1 and 3 mg Br/L and 0.0 and 0.7 iodine (I) mg/L through drinking water (Days 1-42).…”

Survival and development of embryos of <i>Gallus gallus domesticus</i> treated with inorganic bromide

“…Under practical conditions, transfer to both albumen and yolk of Br present in the blood plasma of hens exposed to Br in drinking water may have an effect on the developing embryo similar to the negative effects ingested Br had on the endocrine system and organs of developing broiler chickens. The concentration of Br in the hen's plasma is a function of the concentration present in drinking water, the ingestion rate linked to the quantity of water the hen drinks and the absorption of Br from the digestive tract into the blood plasma as reported for growing broiler chickens (Mamabolo et al, 2009;du Toit & Casey, 2010;. Since the albumen is a possible accumulation site for circulating drug residues (Goetting et al, 2011), ingested Br could transfer a similar concentration to the albumen in a manner that mimics transplacental movement of elements from dam to foetus in mammalian species.…”

“…Acute 31-day exposure to Br as sodium bromide (NaBr) via feed to hatchling chicks resulted in negative effects noted by Bosshardt et al (1956) and Doberenz et al (1965) as stated in NRC (2005). Administered to broilers as NaBr at 1 and 3 mg/L in drinking water respectively, over a 42-day growth period, Br significantly decreased water and feed intakes (du Toit & Casey, 2010). Accumulation of Br occurred in the thyroid gland, liver and kidneys and although there was limited damage to thyroid and kidneys, explicit liver damage was reported in birds receiving higher Br concentrations in their drinking water (du Toit & Casey, 2012).…”