Drinking water quality and its effects on productive performance of layers during winter season

Abstract

Samples of water were taken from different sources (commercial, Nile and well). Physical, chemical and bacteriological analysis of samples revealed that, levels of salinity, hardness, alkalinity, Ca, Mg, Na and K in the well water were higher than those in the Nile and commercial water. Higher levels of sulphate and chloride were found in the commercial water. Total bacterial count was higher in the Nile water than in the commercial and well water. Then an experiment was carried out to detect the effects of different sources of water on productive performance of layers during winter season. Layers consumed Nile and well water produced eggs with significantly increased (P<0.01) shell thickness than those consumed commercial water. Also it was observed that, layers given commercial water had significantly increased (P<0.01) levels of plasma sodium, potassium and calcium when compared to those hens given Nile or well water. A significant decreased (P<0.05) in magnesium concentration was observed in hens given commercial water than those given Nile or well water. Treatments had no significant effect (P>0.05) on egg production, feed conversion ratio, water and feed consumption, water/feed consumption ratio, egg weight, change in body weight and inorganic phosphorous concentration of the plasma. © Asian Network for Scientific Information, 2008.