Food intake and growth in chickens given food in the wet form with and without access to drinking water

Abstract

1. Individually caged growing chickens were offered a commercial grower food mixed with 1.5 to 2.25 times the weight of water and the effects, compared to giving the same food in air-dry form, on food intake, body weight gain and carcase composition were investigated. 2. Male broilers (24) were given either a grower food in the air-dry form with access to drinking water or the same food mixed with 2.0 parts of water (700 g water/kg of mixed food) with no drinking water from 28 to 49 d of age. From 49 to 63 d all birds were given dry food and drinking water and were then killed for carcase analysis. Food intake and weight gain were significantly increased during the wet-feeding period, as was carcase protein but not abdominal or carcase fat at the end of the experiment. 3. Five male broilers were given each of 5 dietary treatments containing 0 (control), 1.5, 1.75, 2.0 and 2.25 times added water (640, 673, 700 and 723 g water/kg) from 28 to 49 d. Food intakes, body weight gains and carcase weights were significantly increased for all water additions compared with dry food, but there were no significant differences between different water additions. 4. Female broiler chicks responded to wet feeding (700 g water/kg) in a similar manner to males and the dry matter approximate digestibility was increased from 0.65 for the dry food to 0.73 for the wet. 5. Cockerels of an egg-laying strain did not increase their intake of dietary dry matter when it was fed in the wet form (700 g water/kg), but there was a significant increase in body weight gain. 6. Male broilers were offered wet food (700 g water/kg) with or without access to drinking water. There was equal stimulation of food intake, growth and carcase weight with both wet-feeding treatments. 7. Providing food mixed with sufficient water to give a porridge-like consistency significantly increased weight gains in each of the five experiments and significantly improved food conversion efficiency in three of the five. It is not necessary to withhold drinking water in order to obtain this effect.

The response of growing native turkeys to different feed colours and forms

“…The results of the present experiment showed that feed form improved growth rate of turkeys. Our results were supported by Yalda and Forbes (), Greenwood, Cramer, Clark, Behnke, and Beyer (), Jahan, Asaduzzaman, and Sarkar (), Mirghelenj and Golian (), Chewning, Stark, and Brake () and Farghly (). Farghly and Abou‐Kassem () found significant differences in the final body weight and BWG among feed form groups.…”

Using Wet Feed in Feeding Japanese Quail Under Summer Conditions

“…Also, it may be due to allow more fast penetration of digestive juices by these changes in physical parameters of the feed form (Frikha, et al, 2009). The results of this experiment were supported by Yalda and Forbes, (1995), Ogbonna et al, (2001), Awojobi and Meshioye (2001), Awojobi et al, (2009 and2011) and Dei and Bumbie, (2011) who reported that wet feed was more beneficial and improved growth rate than mash or dry feed. Akinola et al, (2015) found a significant higher BWG for chickens fed wet feed.…”

“…On the contrary of our results, Agah and Norollahi (2008) found that feed form did not affect feed conversion. Also, Yalda and Forbes, (1995) and Yasar and Forbes (2000) found that wet feed increased feed intake.…”

Use of Wildlife Water Developments by Birds in Southwest Arizona During Migration

“…Successful migration depends on several factors such as weather (Weber et al 1998), habitat suitability at stopover sites (Skagen et al 1998, Yong et al 1998, Dunn 2002, interspecific and intraspecific competition (Moore and Yong 1991), and risk of predation (Weber et al 1999, Dierschke 2003. Energy demands are believed to be the principal factor driving decisions during migration (Odum et al 1964, Torre-Bueno 1978, Blem 1980, Dawson 1982, although water is also a key factor (Yalda andForbes 1995, Kotler et al 1998). Birds use different migration strategies to balance energy and water budgets (Jenni andJenni-Eiermann 1998, Dunn 2002) and minimize flight times (Alerstam and Hedenström 1998).…”