The Effects of Water Restriction on Performance of Broiler Chickens in the Hot Humid Tropics

Abstract

The performance of broiler chickens as measured by feed consumption, feed conversion efficiency, body weight gain, and other traits was studied in an experiment in which three groups of chickens received 85, 70, and 55%, respectively, of the amount of water supplied to a control group which had water ad libitum to 8 weeks of age.Each level of water restriction caused a significant depression in feed consumption and body weight gain. As feed consumption appears to be a function of water availability, differences in feed conversion efficiency were not statistically significant (P>.05).Treatments did not have adverse effects on mortality. (

Water scarcity can be a critical limitation for the poultry industry

“…They also observed that survival rate increased with the advance in age. Kese and Baffour-Awuah ( 1982 ) reported that WR of about 15–45% of ad libitum WI for the entire growing period did not significantly affect the mortality rate, but WR significantly affected the growth performance, which agrees with the findings of Kellerup et al ( 1965 ) and Viola et al ( 2009 ).…”

“…They reported a significant linear reduction in daily FI and body weight gain (BWG), and a worse FCR with increasing WR level. Under a tropical environment, Kese and Baffour-Awuah ( 1982 ) reported that increasing WR levels of 15, 30, and 45% of ad libitum WI from 1 to 8 weeks of age impaired the BWG and FCR of broilers. Also, Abdelsamie and Yadiwilo ( 1981 ) applied different levels of WR over a 9-week period and reported a significant depression in BWG and worse FCR throughout the studied period.…”