Cyclic watering of broiler cockerels.

Two trials were designed to compare the performance of broilers receiving free access to water with those receiving cyclic access to water. Birds that received water in cyclic pattern were presented water by the activation of waterers for 15 min in each 3-h cycle (Trial 1) or 30 min in each 4-h cycle (Trial 2). In each trial, the control group received water ad libitum. Feed and water consumption and body weight were reduced in the cyclic-watered birds after 21 days of age in Trial 1 and were not different in the cyclic-watered birds in Trial 2 when compared with values for controls. Water:feed ratio and feed conversion values of the cyclic-watered birds were not altered by the cyclic watering regimens used in Trials 1 and 2. Observations of drinking patterns in Trial 2 demonstrate that the cyclic presentation of water can induce meal-drinking in cyclic-watered birds, but the feeding pattern of these birds was not altered. These data demonstrate that alteration of drinking activity can be accomplished without affecting growth and feed efficiency, and that altered drinking activity does not necessarily alter feeding activity.

[1]  W. Morrison,et al.  Effect of Controlled Drinking Time on Feeding Behavior and Growth of Young Broiler Breeder Females , 1981 .

[2]  H. Marks.  Role of water in regulating feed intake and feed efficiency of broilers. , 1981, Poultry science.

[3]  R. W. Gerry.  Effects of the Restriction of Time of Water Availability on the Performance of Cage Reared Broilers , 1980 .

[4]  F. Muir,et al.  Effect of Restricted Feeding and Watering on Laying House Performance of Red × Rock Sex-Linked Females , 1978 .

[5]  C. Savory.  The relationship between food and water intake and the effects of water restriction on laying brown leghorn hens , 1978 .

[6]  G. H. Arscott,et al.  Intermittent Watering and Feeding Programs for White Leghorn Layers , 1976 .

[7]  B. D. Barnett,et al.  The Effect of Feed and Water Deprivation on Water and Feed Consumption, Body Weight and Mortality in Broiler Chickens of Various Ages , 1966 .

[8]  B. W. Bierer,et al.  EFFECT OF FEED AND WATER DEPRIVATION ON CHICKENS, TURKEYS, AND LABORATORY MAMMALS. , 1965, Poultry science.

[9]  G. H. Arscott,et al.  EFFECT OF RESTRICTED WATER CONSUMPTION ON BROILER CHICKENS. , 1965, Poultry science.

[10]  E. Ross.  The Effect of Water Restriction on Chicks Fed Different Levels of Molasses , 1960 .

[11]  M. H. Conner.  Effect of Various Hormone Preparations and Nutritional Stresses in Chicks , 1959 .

[12]  B. Maxwell,et al.  Restricted Water for Wet Dropping Prevention , 1957 .

[13]  D. B. Duncan.  MULTIPLE RANGE AND MULTIPLE F TESTS , 1955 .

[14]  W. Edwards,et al.  Response of hens under thermal stress to dehydration and chilled drinking water. , 1952, The American journal of physiology.

[15]  M. Kare,et al.  The Toxicity of Sodium Chloride and its Relation to Water Intake in Baby Chicks , 1948 .

[16]  J. Strominger.  The Relation Between Water Intake and Food Intake in Normal Rats and in Rats with Hypothalamic Hyperphagia * , 1947, The Yale journal of biology and medicine.