Effect of brackish drinking water on the performance of broilers

The effect of bicarbonate, chloride and sulphate dominated brackish drinking waters on the performance of broiler was studied. Day old broiler chicks were randomly divided into 30 groups of 22 chicks in each and three replicated groups were offered with either tap water (control) or simulated (on the pattern of underground water) brackish waters predominant in bicarbonate, chloride and sulphate salts of three levels viz 2000, 4000 and 6000 uS/cm Electrical Conductivity (EC) for 8 weeks. The bicarbonate and chloride dominated with maximum EC (6000) had no significant (PIO.OS) effect on body weight gain, but the sulphate-dominated water adversely affected it. Water intake, feed intake and feed conversion ratio in birds provided bicarbonate and chloride dominated water irrespective of EC levels were comparable, however, significantly (P<0.05) lower water and feed intake, and poor feed conversion ratio were observed in sulphate dominated water at 6000 EC level. Incidence of leg deformity and mortality were found higher in groups receiving sulphate dominated water of 4000 and 6000 EC, and chloride dominated of 6000 EC as compared to control and bicarbonate dominated water. The moisture content of litter did not differ due to type of water and level of EC. It is concluded that brackish water of bicarbonate dominated up to 6000, chloride up to 4000 and sulphate dominated water up to 2000 uS/cm level of EC can be successfully used as drinking water for broiler production.