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Effects of Delayed Housing of Broiler Chicks and Three Different Types of Waterers on Broiler Performance1
EDUCATION AND PRODUCTION Effects of Delayed Housing of Broiler Chicks and Three Different Types of Waterers on Broiler Performance1 L. K. STAMPS and L. D. ANDREWS2 Poultry Science Department, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701
1995 Poultry Science 74:1935-1941
There has never been a waterer designed for poultry that meets everyThrough the years, baby chicks have one's idea of what a perfect waterer been transported to the farm by truck and should be. Lately there has been some airplane, sometimes taking 2 to 3 d to concern that baby chicks could and would reach the farm for feed and water. It has climb into the trough space, especially if always been thought that delaying the the chicks were very thirsty. Few researchtime when the baby chicks were supplied ers have compared waterers with this in feed and water would have a detrimental mind. However, much has been done on effect on them. When the hatchery sent comparing different types of waterers as pedigree stock across the country or to a they relate to body weight and feed foreign country, the effect on body weight and feed conversion of the birds was conversion. No differences were found by Andrews considered to be a problem. and Harris (1975) in 8-wk broiler weights when the broilers were reared with Plasson round, plastic hanging waterers or Received for publication March 24, 1994. Swish cups. The broilers were reared in Accepted for publication July 31, 1995. pens of 75 broilers, with one Plasson 1 Published with the approval of the Director of the plastic hanging waterer or 10 Swish cups Arkansas Agriculture Experiment Station, manuscript per pen. Harris et al. (1970) reported that Number 94043. 2 To whom correspondence should be addressed. 8-wk-old broilers reared on nipple INTRODUCTION
1935
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ABSTRACT The performance of broilers was examined under different days of placement (after hatching) and with three different types of waterers: l)van automatic satellite waterer; 2) a broiler Plasson waterer; and 3) a regular Plasson waterer with a plastic ring in the trough of the waterer for 3 d. Male broiler chicks (2,106) from a commercial strain were randomly placed in 27 litter floor pens, with 9 pens per day of placement and waterer treatments. The broilers consumed feed and water ad libitum and mortality was recorded. The broilers were weighed at day of placement, at 7 and 49 d from day of placement and at 28 and 49 d from day of hatch. There was a difference in body weight (P < .05) among the broilers on the day of placement, with those on the day of hatch being heavier. There was no difference in body weights or feed conversion taken after the broilers were on feed for 7 and 49 d after placement. The broilers placed on the 3rd d after hatching had a higher (P < .05) mortality rate at 28 d of age than the other two groups. There was no difference in body weight, feed conversion, or mortality within the three different waterer treatments except for the broilers on the Plasson with the ring, which was higher in mortality percentage (P < .05) than the broilers on the broiler Plasson waterer. The broilers placed in the pens with, the regular Plasson waterer did not get wet from climbing into the water during the first few days as did the broilers in the pens with the automatic satellite waterer or the Plasson waterer with the ring. (Key words: broiler, waterers, delayed housing, performance)
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waterers were not as heavy as birds reared used did not include nipple waterers on Plasson plastic hanging waterers. because one of the main purposes was to McMasters et al. (1971) reported a higher compare this waterer with and without a broiler body weight in broilers that were satellite waterer and with a special ring to reared with a trough waterer than in keep the baby chicks out of the trough broilers reared with a nipple system (13:1 when the chicks were only a few days old. broilers:nipple ratio). When the nipples were increased to 8:1 and 2.5:1 broilers per MATERIALS AND METHODS nipple, there was a positive growth Male broiler chicks from a commercial response. However, when comparing the hanging plastic fountains to a nipple strain were purchased from a commercial water system, Andrews and Harris (1971) hatchery. The chicks were vaccinated at found that broilers reared with the hang- the hatchery for Marek's, bronchitis, and ing fountains were heavier than those Newcastle diseases. The chicks (2,106) broilers reared on the nipple waterers. were divided into three groups and ranpens Andrews (1974) reported that, in terms of domly assigned into 27 experimental 2 8-wk broiler body weight, feed efficiency, with 78 chicks per pen (692 cm per chick). and mortality, the Plasson fountain per- The first group of chicks was randomly formed as well as the standard trough placed into nine pens on the day they waterer. Andrews (1976) compared Plas- were hatched. The second group of chicks son fountains with different types of was randomly placed into the second nipples. He found no difference among group of nine pens 24 h after the first the types of nipples used in regard to group was placed. The third group of 8-wk body weight. However, when com- chicks was randomly placed into the last paring the nipples to the Plasson foun- nine pens 48 h after the first group was The chicks to be placed on the 2nd tains, the broilers reared on the Plasson placed. and 3rd d were left in the chick boxes in waterers were heavier than those reared the hallway of the house. on the nipples. When comparing different Overlapping the study on the day of densities of nipples with the Plasson plastic hanging fountain, Andrews and placement of the chicks was a study of different types of broiler waterers: 1) Harris (1975) found that the 8-wk body three an automatic satellite waterer3 (a small weight of broilers was greater with Plas- plastic fountain used in place of a handson fountains than with nipples. filled plastic jug) used for the first 10 d with a broiler Plasson Andrews et al. (1991) conducted two and replaced 3 waterer; 2) a broiler Plasson waterer;3 and experiments comparing different types of 3 nipple waterers with Plasson plastic hang- 3) a 4regular Plasson waterer with a plastic ing waterers. In the first experiment, the ring around the lip of the waterer 7-wk body weight of the broilers on the designed to let the chicks drink through Plasson, the Choretime cup and the Aqua holes in the ring but to not allow the high-pressure nipple were heavier than chicks to climb into the trough. The ring those on the Ziggity nipple. In the second around the Plasson waterer was removed experiment, there was no difference in after 3 d, and the satellite waterer was 7-wk body weights among any of the four removed after 10 d and replaced with a types of waterers. The following experi- broiler Plasson waterer. All the Plasson ment was conducted to evaluate: 1) body waterers were placed on a board with a weight, feed conversion, and mortality hole in the board the size of the ballast. board allowed the baby chicks to walk when baby chicks were delayed in being The up to the lip of the waterers while keeping placed on feed and water, and 2) three the litter out of the water. As the chicks types of waterers. The types of waterers were placed into the pens, the amount of time it took for them to find the water and the number of chicks that crawled into the waterer was recorded. 3 Diversified Imports, D.I.V. Co., Inc., Lakewood, Rice hulls were used for the Utter at a NJ 08701. 4 Made by a local individual, Fayetteville, AR depth of 5 cm in all pens. Each pen was equipped with 1 gas brooder (a 15,000 72701.
1937
DELAYED HOUSING OF BROILER CHICKS TABLE 1. Mean ± SE of broiler body weight at day of placement and at 7 d from day of placement and mortality percentage at 7 d from day of placement
Age at placement
Body weight at day of placement
Body weight at 7 d from day of placement
Mortality at 7 d from day of placement
124.3 ± 6.98 130.7 ± 6.98 119.3 ± 6.98
(%) 1.58 ± .23b 1.44 ± .23b 2.31 ± .23"
(r) —
(d)
\g) —
1 2 3
40.2 ± .28" 37.4 ± .28b 33.6 ± .28'
"-'Means within columns with no common superscript differ significantly (P < .05).
the birds were 46 d of age, causing unusually high mortality; therefore, mortality data were not used at 49 d. An analysis of variance with a 3 x 3 factorial was performed using a general linear model procedure (SAS Institute, 1989). Mean separation was determined by Duncan's multiple range test using a significance level of .05. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The body weights taken after the broilers had been on feed for 7 and 49 d from day of placement were analyzed separately from the body weights taken at 28 and 49 d of age from day of hatch. The mean weights taken at the time of placement from Groups 1, 2, and 3 were 40.18, 37.42, and 33.61 g, respectively (Table 1). These weights were different (P < .05), as was expected with Group 1 birds being placed on the day they were hatched, and Groups 2 and 3 being without feed and water for 24 and 48 h, respectively. The mean body weights taken after the broil-
TABLE 2. Mean ± SE of broiler body weight, feed conversion, and mortality at 28 d from day of hatch Age at placement
Body weight at 28 d from day of hatch
(d) 1 2 3
(g) 986.7 ± 10.55" 929.7 ± 10.55b 825.8 ± 10.55<
Feed conversion at 28 d from day of hatch
(g=g) 1.42 ± .01 1.40 ± .01 1.41 ± .01 : Means within columns with no common superscript differ significantly (P < .05).
Mortality at 28 d from day of hatch (%) 1.89b 1.92b 3.08"
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hover type controlled with an individual thermostat), two feeder trays (used for the first 14 d), one waterer (described above), and two .612-m hog feeders. The starter and grower rations were a commercial feed provided by a local integrated poultry company. The starter ration was fed to 3 wk of age, and the grower ration was fed from 3 to 7 wk of age. Feed and water were provided for ad libitum intake throughout the study. The broilers received 24 h of light for the first 3 d, after which they received 23 h of light and 1 h of darkness. Each pen had one 7-W fluorescent light bulb. All broilers were weighed as they were counted into the pens. Mortality and feed added was recorded on a per-pen basis as it occurred. The broilers were again weighed 7 d from the day of placement into the pens, and mortality was recorded. Body weights were again taken at 28 and 49 d from day of hatch and at 49 d from day of placement. Feed conversion was calculated each time body weight was taken. Mortality was recorded and calculated for 7 and 28 d of age. The breakers to the exhaust fans were thrown the night
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TABLE 3. Mean ± SE of broiler body weights and feed conversions at 49 d from day of hatch
Age at placement (d) 1 2 3
Body weight at 49 d from day of hatch
(g) 2,256.4 ± .06« 2,224.6 ± .06* 2,147.4 ± .06"
Feed conversion at 49 d from day of hatch (g:g) 1.82 ± .01 1.82 ± .01 1.79 ± .01
a-bMeans within columns with no common superscript differ significantly (P < .05).
Groups 1, 2, and 3 at 28 d of age from day of hatch were 1.42, 1.40, and 1.41%, respectively (Table 2). There was no difference in the feed conversion between the groups of broilers placed on different days. There was a difference (P < .05) in the percentage mortality at 28 d of age. As shown in Table 2, the broilers placed on the 3rd d had a higher percentage mortality (3.08%) than Groups 1 and 2, which had mortality percentages of 1.89 and 1.92%, respectively. The mean weights taken after all broilers had been on feed for 49 d from day of hatch were 2,256.4, 2,224.6, and 2,147.4 g for Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (Table 3). Broilers placed on the day of hatch were heavier (P < .05) than the broilers placed on the 3rd d after hatching, whereas the broilers placed on the 2nd d after hatching were not different from the broilers placed on the 3rd d after hatching. There was no difference among Groups 1, 2, and 3 for feed conversions of 1.82,1.82, and 1.79, respectively. These results indicate that broilers placed on the 2nd or 3rd d after hatching may not perform as well as broilers placed on the day of hatching when calculations were made from the day of hatch. The mean weights taken after all groups of broilers had been on feed for 49
TABLE 4. Mean ± SE of broiler body weights and feed conversions at 49 d from day of placement1
Age at placement
Body weight at 49 d from day of placement
Feed conversion at 49 d from day of placement
(d) 1 2 3
(g) 2,256.4 ± .06 2,315.4 ± .06 2,329.0 ± .06
(g«) 1.82 ± .01 1.84 ± .01 1.81 ± .01
Means within columns did not differ significantly (P < .05).
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ers had been on feed for 7 d from day of placement of 124.3, 130.7, and 119.3 g for Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (Table 1), show no difference among them. These weights show that broilers not placed in the house on the day they were hatched may regain most of the weight lost by the 7th d on feed. The Group 2 broilers were the heaviest of the three groups; however, this difference was not significant. The percentage mortality of the groups after being on feed for 7 d from the day of placement shows that Group 3 had the highest mortality (2.31%), which was higher (P < .05) than that of Group 1 or Group 2 (1.58 and 1.44%, respectively) (Table 1). The higher mortality in the broilers placed on the 3rd d could be attributed to the stress on the broilers caused by the withholding of feed and water for 48 h. The mean body weight of the broilers taken when all groups were 28 d of age from day of hatch shows that the broilers that had been on the feed the longest were heavier than the broilers that had only been on feed for 26 d. The mean weights were 986.7, 929.7, and 825.8 g for Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (Table 2). There were differences (P < .05) among Groups 1, 2, and 3. Feed conversions calculated for
1939
DELAYED HOUSING OF BROILER CHICKS
TABLE 5. Mean ± SE of broiler body weights at day of placement and at 7 d when placed in pens provided with a satellite waterer, a Plasson waterer, or a Plasson waterer with a ring in the trough to keep chicks from climbing into the water trough
Types of waterers
Body weight at day of placement
Satellite waterer Plasson Plasson with ring
37.6 ± .98 36.8 ± 1.2 36.8 ± .85
Body weight at 7 d from day of placement
Mortality at 7 d from day of placement
115.7 ± 6.8 128.3 ± 8.3 129.9 ± 5.9
(%) 1.76 ± .3<* 1.24 ± .3" 2.05 ± .2"
-(g)-
a
->>Means within columns with no common superscript differ significantly (P < .05).
time it took for the chicks to find water and the number of chicks that crawled into the waterers were recorded. The chicks in the pens with the satellite waterers found water more quickly than with the other types of waterers. However, all pens with the satellite waterer had chicks climbing in and over the waterer. The number of chicks that became wet in the pens with the satellite waterer ranged from 10 to 30 chicks. The chicks in the pens with the broiler Plasson all found water within 50 min from being placed. No chicks in these pens became wet. The chicks in the pens that had the Plassons with the ring in the trough were the last to find water, which took at least 1 h. The rings did not keep the chicks out of the water. Some chicks climbed over the rings, some chicks pushed through the holes in the ring, and some chicks became stuck in the holes. Two chicks drowned on the 2nd d in a pen with a Plasson waterer with the ring in the trough. None of the chicks flocked to the waterers, even those that were placed on the 3rd d. There was no difference among the body weights of the broilers after 7 d from
TABLE 6. Mean ± SE of broiler body weight, feed conversion, and mortality percentage at 28 d from day of hatch when placed in pens provided with a satellite waterer, a Plasson waterer, or a Plasson waterer with a ring in the trough to keep chicks from climbing into the water trough
Types of waterers
Body weight at 28 d from day of hatch
Feed conversion at 28 d from day of hatch
Mortality at 28 d from day of hatch
Satellite waterer Plasson Plasson with ring
(g) 923.6 ± 25.6 919.4 ± 31.4 904.2 ± 22.2
(g:g) 1.41 ± .01 1.42 ± .01 1.41 ± .01
2.28 ± .34 2.09 ± .42 2.41 ± .29
(%)
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d from day of placement were 2,256.4, 2,315.4, and 2,329.0 g for Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (Table 4). There was no difference among any of the groups even though the broilers in Group 3 were the heaviest. The feed conversion for Groups 1, 2, and 3 taken after 49 d of feed were 1.82, 1.84, and 1.81, respectively (Table 4). There was no difference between any of the groups. These weights follow the same trend as the weights taken after the broilers had been on feed from the day of placement for 7 d. Data show that the groups of broilers that were not placed into the pens until 1 or 2 d after hatch regained most of the weight lost due to stress if the age of the broiler was considered as the day of placement. When the three different types of waterers were compared, the mean chick body weights at the time of placement were 37.6, 36.8, and 36.8 g for the satellite, the Plasson, and the Plasson with the ring, respectively (Table 5). There was no difference in these body weights among the three types of waterers. When the chicks were placed in the pens, the amount of
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STAMPS AND ANDREWS
TABLE 7. Mean ± SE of broiler body weight and feed conversion at 49 d from day of hatch when placed in pens provided with a satellite waterer, a Plasson waterer, or a Plasson waterer with a ring in the trough to keep chicks from climbing into the water trough
Types of waterers
Body weight at 49 d from day of hatch
Feed conversion at 49 d from day of hatch
Satellite waterer Plasson Plasson with ring
(g) 2,256.4 ± .06 2,161.0 ± .06 2,192.8 ± .06
(g:g) 1.81 ± .01 1.83 ± .01 1.80 ± .01
After 49 d from day of hatch or from day of placement, there was no difference in either the mean broiler body weight or feed conversion among the three waterer systems. The mean broiler body weights were 2,256.4, 2,161.0, and 2,192.8 g from day of hatch, and 2,338.1, 2,260.9, and 2,288.2 g from day of placement for the satellite, the Plasson, and the Plasson with ring, respectively (Tables 7 and 8). The feed conversions were 1.81, 1.83, and 1.80 from day of hatch and 1.83, 1.82, and 1.82 from day of placement for the satellite, the Plasson, and the Plasson with ring, respectively (Tables 7 and 8). According to the results of this experiment, there was little detrimental effect on broiler performance from delaying the placing of baby chicks on feed and water. Even when chicks were not placed in the house until the 2nd d after hatching, they recovered most of the weight lost if their age was calculated from the day they were placed. The feed conversion and mortality percentage of those birds were not affected. In regard to the body weights of the chicks at the time they were placed, chicks placed on the 3rd d were signifi-
TABLE 8. Mean ± SE of broiler body weight and feed conversion at 49 d from day of placement when placed in pens provided with a satellite waterer, a Plasson waterer, or a Plasson waterer with a ring in the trough to keep chicks from climbing into the water trough
Types of waterers Satellite waterer Plasson Plasson with ring
Body weight at 49 d from day of placement
Feed conversion at 49 d from day of placement
(g) 2.338.1 ± .06 2,260.9 ± .08
feg)
2.288.2 ± .05
1.83 ± .01 1.82 ± .02 1.82 ± .01
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day of placement, which were 115.7,128.3, and 129.9 g for the satellite, the Plasson, and the Plasson with ring, respectively (Table 5). There was a difference (P < .05) in mortality percentage for the broilers reared on the Plasson and the Plasson with ring, which were 1.24, and 2.05%, respectively (Table 5). The broilers on the satellite waterer had 1.76% mortality percentage, which was not different from either of the other two waterers. When the birds were weighed at 28 d from day of hatch, the broiler mean weights for the satellite, the Plasson, and the Plasson with ring were 923.6, 919.4, and 904.2 g, respectively (Table 6). There was no difference in body weights among the three types of waterers that were tested. The feed conversions at 28 d from day of hatch, 1.41, 1.42, and 1.41, were not different for the satellite, the Plasson, and the Plasson with ring, respectively (Table 6). There was also no difference in mortality percentage of the broilers at 28 d from day of hatch among the satellite, the Plasson, and the Plasson with ring, with mortality percentages of 2.28, 2.09, and 2.41%, respectively (Table 6).
DELAYED HOUSING OF BROILER CHICKS
the pens with the Plasson due to the broilers getting wet. From this study it may be concluded that delaying by 1 or 2 d when the birds are placed on feed and water after hatching does not affect body weight or feed conversion when the age of the broiler is calculated from the day of placement on feed and water. REFERENCES Andrews, L. D., 1974. Performance of broilers using plastic hanging waterers vs. troughs. Poultry Sci. 53:1898.(Abstr.) Andrews, L. D., 1976. Performance of broilers on different waterers. Ark. Farm Res. 23:3-7. Andrews, L. D., and G. C. Harris, Jr., 1971. Comparison of systems for watering broilers. Ark. Farm Res. 20:6-8. Andrews, L. D., and G. G Harris, Jr., 1975. Broiler performance and type of watering equipment. Poultry Sci. 54:1727. Andrews, L. D., L. K. Stamps, and R. W. Moore, 1991. Broiler performance on different types of waterers. Poultry Sci. 70(Suppl. l):5.(Abstr.) Harris, G. C, Jr., L. D. Andrews, and J. D. McMasters, Jr., 1970. Watering systems for broilers. Ark. Farm Res. 19(2):5. McMasters, J. D., Jr.., G. C. Harris, Jr., and T. L. Goodwin, 1971. Effects of nipple and trough watering systems on broiler performance. Poultry Sci. 50:432-435. SAS Institute, 1989. SAS® User's Guide: Statistics. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC.
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cantly smaller than those placed on the 1st d. This was to be expected, as those chicks were without feed and water for 2 d. However, after the chicks had been on feed for 7 d, the body weights of all groups of chicks were about equal. The mortality after 7 d from day of placement was higher in the group of chicks placed on the 3rd d. This again could be expected due to the stress on the chicks. At 49 d of age, there was no difference in the body weights of the broilers among the three groups of birds. In the testing of the three different types of waterers, there was no difference in broiler body weight, feed conversion, or mortality percentage except for mortality percentage at 7 d from day of placement among the waterers. Broilers on the Plasson waterer had the lowest rate of mortality at 28 d of age; however, this difference was not significant. None of the groups of broilers flocked excessively to the waterers; however, some birds did climb into the water in the satellite waterer and the Plasson with the ring. Some broilers were lost in the pens with the satellite and the Plasson with the ring due to drowning, getting caught in the ring, or just from getting too wet. There was no mortality in
1941
1995 Poultry Science 74:1935-1941
There has never been a waterer designed for poultry that meets everyThrough the years, baby chicks have one's idea of what a perfect waterer been transported to the farm by truck and should be. Lately there has been some airplane, sometimes taking 2 to 3 d to concern that baby chicks could and would reach the farm for feed and water. It has climb into the trough space, especially if always been thought that delaying the the chicks were very thirsty. Few researchtime when the baby chicks were supplied ers have compared waterers with this in feed and water would have a detrimental mind. However, much has been done on effect on them. When the hatchery sent comparing different types of waterers as pedigree stock across the country or to a they relate to body weight and feed foreign country, the effect on body weight and feed conversion of the birds was conversion. No differences were found by Andrews considered to be a problem. and Harris (1975) in 8-wk broiler weights when the broilers were reared with Plasson round, plastic hanging waterers or Received for publication March 24, 1994. Swish cups. The broilers were reared in Accepted for publication July 31, 1995. pens of 75 broilers, with one Plasson 1 Published with the approval of the Director of the plastic hanging waterer or 10 Swish cups Arkansas Agriculture Experiment Station, manuscript per pen. Harris et al. (1970) reported that Number 94043. 2 To whom correspondence should be addressed. 8-wk-old broilers reared on nipple INTRODUCTION
1935
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Florida Atlantic University on November 22, 2014
ABSTRACT The performance of broilers was examined under different days of placement (after hatching) and with three different types of waterers: l)van automatic satellite waterer; 2) a broiler Plasson waterer; and 3) a regular Plasson waterer with a plastic ring in the trough of the waterer for 3 d. Male broiler chicks (2,106) from a commercial strain were randomly placed in 27 litter floor pens, with 9 pens per day of placement and waterer treatments. The broilers consumed feed and water ad libitum and mortality was recorded. The broilers were weighed at day of placement, at 7 and 49 d from day of placement and at 28 and 49 d from day of hatch. There was a difference in body weight (P < .05) among the broilers on the day of placement, with those on the day of hatch being heavier. There was no difference in body weights or feed conversion taken after the broilers were on feed for 7 and 49 d after placement. The broilers placed on the 3rd d after hatching had a higher (P < .05) mortality rate at 28 d of age than the other two groups. There was no difference in body weight, feed conversion, or mortality within the three different waterer treatments except for the broilers on the Plasson with the ring, which was higher in mortality percentage (P < .05) than the broilers on the broiler Plasson waterer. The broilers placed in the pens with, the regular Plasson waterer did not get wet from climbing into the water during the first few days as did the broilers in the pens with the automatic satellite waterer or the Plasson waterer with the ring. (Key words: broiler, waterers, delayed housing, performance)
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Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Florida Atlantic University on November 22, 2014
waterers were not as heavy as birds reared used did not include nipple waterers on Plasson plastic hanging waterers. because one of the main purposes was to McMasters et al. (1971) reported a higher compare this waterer with and without a broiler body weight in broilers that were satellite waterer and with a special ring to reared with a trough waterer than in keep the baby chicks out of the trough broilers reared with a nipple system (13:1 when the chicks were only a few days old. broilers:nipple ratio). When the nipples were increased to 8:1 and 2.5:1 broilers per MATERIALS AND METHODS nipple, there was a positive growth Male broiler chicks from a commercial response. However, when comparing the hanging plastic fountains to a nipple strain were purchased from a commercial water system, Andrews and Harris (1971) hatchery. The chicks were vaccinated at found that broilers reared with the hang- the hatchery for Marek's, bronchitis, and ing fountains were heavier than those Newcastle diseases. The chicks (2,106) broilers reared on the nipple waterers. were divided into three groups and ranpens Andrews (1974) reported that, in terms of domly assigned into 27 experimental 2 8-wk broiler body weight, feed efficiency, with 78 chicks per pen (692 cm per chick). and mortality, the Plasson fountain per- The first group of chicks was randomly formed as well as the standard trough placed into nine pens on the day they waterer. Andrews (1976) compared Plas- were hatched. The second group of chicks son fountains with different types of was randomly placed into the second nipples. He found no difference among group of nine pens 24 h after the first the types of nipples used in regard to group was placed. The third group of 8-wk body weight. However, when com- chicks was randomly placed into the last paring the nipples to the Plasson foun- nine pens 48 h after the first group was The chicks to be placed on the 2nd tains, the broilers reared on the Plasson placed. and 3rd d were left in the chick boxes in waterers were heavier than those reared the hallway of the house. on the nipples. When comparing different Overlapping the study on the day of densities of nipples with the Plasson plastic hanging fountain, Andrews and placement of the chicks was a study of different types of broiler waterers: 1) Harris (1975) found that the 8-wk body three an automatic satellite waterer3 (a small weight of broilers was greater with Plas- plastic fountain used in place of a handson fountains than with nipples. filled plastic jug) used for the first 10 d with a broiler Plasson Andrews et al. (1991) conducted two and replaced 3 waterer; 2) a broiler Plasson waterer;3 and experiments comparing different types of 3 nipple waterers with Plasson plastic hang- 3) a 4regular Plasson waterer with a plastic ing waterers. In the first experiment, the ring around the lip of the waterer 7-wk body weight of the broilers on the designed to let the chicks drink through Plasson, the Choretime cup and the Aqua holes in the ring but to not allow the high-pressure nipple were heavier than chicks to climb into the trough. The ring those on the Ziggity nipple. In the second around the Plasson waterer was removed experiment, there was no difference in after 3 d, and the satellite waterer was 7-wk body weights among any of the four removed after 10 d and replaced with a types of waterers. The following experi- broiler Plasson waterer. All the Plasson ment was conducted to evaluate: 1) body waterers were placed on a board with a weight, feed conversion, and mortality hole in the board the size of the ballast. board allowed the baby chicks to walk when baby chicks were delayed in being The up to the lip of the waterers while keeping placed on feed and water, and 2) three the litter out of the water. As the chicks types of waterers. The types of waterers were placed into the pens, the amount of time it took for them to find the water and the number of chicks that crawled into the waterer was recorded. 3 Diversified Imports, D.I.V. Co., Inc., Lakewood, Rice hulls were used for the Utter at a NJ 08701. 4 Made by a local individual, Fayetteville, AR depth of 5 cm in all pens. Each pen was equipped with 1 gas brooder (a 15,000 72701.
1937
DELAYED HOUSING OF BROILER CHICKS TABLE 1. Mean ± SE of broiler body weight at day of placement and at 7 d from day of placement and mortality percentage at 7 d from day of placement
Age at placement
Body weight at day of placement
Body weight at 7 d from day of placement
Mortality at 7 d from day of placement
124.3 ± 6.98 130.7 ± 6.98 119.3 ± 6.98
(%) 1.58 ± .23b 1.44 ± .23b 2.31 ± .23"
(r) —
(d)
\g) —
1 2 3
40.2 ± .28" 37.4 ± .28b 33.6 ± .28'
"-'Means within columns with no common superscript differ significantly (P < .05).
the birds were 46 d of age, causing unusually high mortality; therefore, mortality data were not used at 49 d. An analysis of variance with a 3 x 3 factorial was performed using a general linear model procedure (SAS Institute, 1989). Mean separation was determined by Duncan's multiple range test using a significance level of .05. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The body weights taken after the broilers had been on feed for 7 and 49 d from day of placement were analyzed separately from the body weights taken at 28 and 49 d of age from day of hatch. The mean weights taken at the time of placement from Groups 1, 2, and 3 were 40.18, 37.42, and 33.61 g, respectively (Table 1). These weights were different (P < .05), as was expected with Group 1 birds being placed on the day they were hatched, and Groups 2 and 3 being without feed and water for 24 and 48 h, respectively. The mean body weights taken after the broil-
TABLE 2. Mean ± SE of broiler body weight, feed conversion, and mortality at 28 d from day of hatch Age at placement
Body weight at 28 d from day of hatch
(d) 1 2 3
(g) 986.7 ± 10.55" 929.7 ± 10.55b 825.8 ± 10.55<
Feed conversion at 28 d from day of hatch
(g=g) 1.42 ± .01 1.40 ± .01 1.41 ± .01 : Means within columns with no common superscript differ significantly (P < .05).
Mortality at 28 d from day of hatch (%) 1.89b 1.92b 3.08"
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hover type controlled with an individual thermostat), two feeder trays (used for the first 14 d), one waterer (described above), and two .612-m hog feeders. The starter and grower rations were a commercial feed provided by a local integrated poultry company. The starter ration was fed to 3 wk of age, and the grower ration was fed from 3 to 7 wk of age. Feed and water were provided for ad libitum intake throughout the study. The broilers received 24 h of light for the first 3 d, after which they received 23 h of light and 1 h of darkness. Each pen had one 7-W fluorescent light bulb. All broilers were weighed as they were counted into the pens. Mortality and feed added was recorded on a per-pen basis as it occurred. The broilers were again weighed 7 d from the day of placement into the pens, and mortality was recorded. Body weights were again taken at 28 and 49 d from day of hatch and at 49 d from day of placement. Feed conversion was calculated each time body weight was taken. Mortality was recorded and calculated for 7 and 28 d of age. The breakers to the exhaust fans were thrown the night
1938
STAMPS AND ANDREWS
TABLE 3. Mean ± SE of broiler body weights and feed conversions at 49 d from day of hatch
Age at placement (d) 1 2 3
Body weight at 49 d from day of hatch
(g) 2,256.4 ± .06« 2,224.6 ± .06* 2,147.4 ± .06"
Feed conversion at 49 d from day of hatch (g:g) 1.82 ± .01 1.82 ± .01 1.79 ± .01
a-bMeans within columns with no common superscript differ significantly (P < .05).
Groups 1, 2, and 3 at 28 d of age from day of hatch were 1.42, 1.40, and 1.41%, respectively (Table 2). There was no difference in the feed conversion between the groups of broilers placed on different days. There was a difference (P < .05) in the percentage mortality at 28 d of age. As shown in Table 2, the broilers placed on the 3rd d had a higher percentage mortality (3.08%) than Groups 1 and 2, which had mortality percentages of 1.89 and 1.92%, respectively. The mean weights taken after all broilers had been on feed for 49 d from day of hatch were 2,256.4, 2,224.6, and 2,147.4 g for Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (Table 3). Broilers placed on the day of hatch were heavier (P < .05) than the broilers placed on the 3rd d after hatching, whereas the broilers placed on the 2nd d after hatching were not different from the broilers placed on the 3rd d after hatching. There was no difference among Groups 1, 2, and 3 for feed conversions of 1.82,1.82, and 1.79, respectively. These results indicate that broilers placed on the 2nd or 3rd d after hatching may not perform as well as broilers placed on the day of hatching when calculations were made from the day of hatch. The mean weights taken after all groups of broilers had been on feed for 49
TABLE 4. Mean ± SE of broiler body weights and feed conversions at 49 d from day of placement1
Age at placement
Body weight at 49 d from day of placement
Feed conversion at 49 d from day of placement
(d) 1 2 3
(g) 2,256.4 ± .06 2,315.4 ± .06 2,329.0 ± .06
(g«) 1.82 ± .01 1.84 ± .01 1.81 ± .01
Means within columns did not differ significantly (P < .05).
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ers had been on feed for 7 d from day of placement of 124.3, 130.7, and 119.3 g for Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (Table 1), show no difference among them. These weights show that broilers not placed in the house on the day they were hatched may regain most of the weight lost by the 7th d on feed. The Group 2 broilers were the heaviest of the three groups; however, this difference was not significant. The percentage mortality of the groups after being on feed for 7 d from the day of placement shows that Group 3 had the highest mortality (2.31%), which was higher (P < .05) than that of Group 1 or Group 2 (1.58 and 1.44%, respectively) (Table 1). The higher mortality in the broilers placed on the 3rd d could be attributed to the stress on the broilers caused by the withholding of feed and water for 48 h. The mean body weight of the broilers taken when all groups were 28 d of age from day of hatch shows that the broilers that had been on the feed the longest were heavier than the broilers that had only been on feed for 26 d. The mean weights were 986.7, 929.7, and 825.8 g for Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (Table 2). There were differences (P < .05) among Groups 1, 2, and 3. Feed conversions calculated for
1939
DELAYED HOUSING OF BROILER CHICKS
TABLE 5. Mean ± SE of broiler body weights at day of placement and at 7 d when placed in pens provided with a satellite waterer, a Plasson waterer, or a Plasson waterer with a ring in the trough to keep chicks from climbing into the water trough
Types of waterers
Body weight at day of placement
Satellite waterer Plasson Plasson with ring
37.6 ± .98 36.8 ± 1.2 36.8 ± .85
Body weight at 7 d from day of placement
Mortality at 7 d from day of placement
115.7 ± 6.8 128.3 ± 8.3 129.9 ± 5.9
(%) 1.76 ± .3<* 1.24 ± .3" 2.05 ± .2"
-(g)-
a
->>Means within columns with no common superscript differ significantly (P < .05).
time it took for the chicks to find water and the number of chicks that crawled into the waterers were recorded. The chicks in the pens with the satellite waterers found water more quickly than with the other types of waterers. However, all pens with the satellite waterer had chicks climbing in and over the waterer. The number of chicks that became wet in the pens with the satellite waterer ranged from 10 to 30 chicks. The chicks in the pens with the broiler Plasson all found water within 50 min from being placed. No chicks in these pens became wet. The chicks in the pens that had the Plassons with the ring in the trough were the last to find water, which took at least 1 h. The rings did not keep the chicks out of the water. Some chicks climbed over the rings, some chicks pushed through the holes in the ring, and some chicks became stuck in the holes. Two chicks drowned on the 2nd d in a pen with a Plasson waterer with the ring in the trough. None of the chicks flocked to the waterers, even those that were placed on the 3rd d. There was no difference among the body weights of the broilers after 7 d from
TABLE 6. Mean ± SE of broiler body weight, feed conversion, and mortality percentage at 28 d from day of hatch when placed in pens provided with a satellite waterer, a Plasson waterer, or a Plasson waterer with a ring in the trough to keep chicks from climbing into the water trough
Types of waterers
Body weight at 28 d from day of hatch
Feed conversion at 28 d from day of hatch
Mortality at 28 d from day of hatch
Satellite waterer Plasson Plasson with ring
(g) 923.6 ± 25.6 919.4 ± 31.4 904.2 ± 22.2
(g:g) 1.41 ± .01 1.42 ± .01 1.41 ± .01
2.28 ± .34 2.09 ± .42 2.41 ± .29
(%)
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d from day of placement were 2,256.4, 2,315.4, and 2,329.0 g for Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (Table 4). There was no difference among any of the groups even though the broilers in Group 3 were the heaviest. The feed conversion for Groups 1, 2, and 3 taken after 49 d of feed were 1.82, 1.84, and 1.81, respectively (Table 4). There was no difference between any of the groups. These weights follow the same trend as the weights taken after the broilers had been on feed from the day of placement for 7 d. Data show that the groups of broilers that were not placed into the pens until 1 or 2 d after hatch regained most of the weight lost due to stress if the age of the broiler was considered as the day of placement. When the three different types of waterers were compared, the mean chick body weights at the time of placement were 37.6, 36.8, and 36.8 g for the satellite, the Plasson, and the Plasson with the ring, respectively (Table 5). There was no difference in these body weights among the three types of waterers. When the chicks were placed in the pens, the amount of
1940
STAMPS AND ANDREWS
TABLE 7. Mean ± SE of broiler body weight and feed conversion at 49 d from day of hatch when placed in pens provided with a satellite waterer, a Plasson waterer, or a Plasson waterer with a ring in the trough to keep chicks from climbing into the water trough
Types of waterers
Body weight at 49 d from day of hatch
Feed conversion at 49 d from day of hatch
Satellite waterer Plasson Plasson with ring
(g) 2,256.4 ± .06 2,161.0 ± .06 2,192.8 ± .06
(g:g) 1.81 ± .01 1.83 ± .01 1.80 ± .01
After 49 d from day of hatch or from day of placement, there was no difference in either the mean broiler body weight or feed conversion among the three waterer systems. The mean broiler body weights were 2,256.4, 2,161.0, and 2,192.8 g from day of hatch, and 2,338.1, 2,260.9, and 2,288.2 g from day of placement for the satellite, the Plasson, and the Plasson with ring, respectively (Tables 7 and 8). The feed conversions were 1.81, 1.83, and 1.80 from day of hatch and 1.83, 1.82, and 1.82 from day of placement for the satellite, the Plasson, and the Plasson with ring, respectively (Tables 7 and 8). According to the results of this experiment, there was little detrimental effect on broiler performance from delaying the placing of baby chicks on feed and water. Even when chicks were not placed in the house until the 2nd d after hatching, they recovered most of the weight lost if their age was calculated from the day they were placed. The feed conversion and mortality percentage of those birds were not affected. In regard to the body weights of the chicks at the time they were placed, chicks placed on the 3rd d were signifi-
TABLE 8. Mean ± SE of broiler body weight and feed conversion at 49 d from day of placement when placed in pens provided with a satellite waterer, a Plasson waterer, or a Plasson waterer with a ring in the trough to keep chicks from climbing into the water trough
Types of waterers Satellite waterer Plasson Plasson with ring
Body weight at 49 d from day of placement
Feed conversion at 49 d from day of placement
(g) 2.338.1 ± .06 2,260.9 ± .08
feg)
2.288.2 ± .05
1.83 ± .01 1.82 ± .02 1.82 ± .01
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day of placement, which were 115.7,128.3, and 129.9 g for the satellite, the Plasson, and the Plasson with ring, respectively (Table 5). There was a difference (P < .05) in mortality percentage for the broilers reared on the Plasson and the Plasson with ring, which were 1.24, and 2.05%, respectively (Table 5). The broilers on the satellite waterer had 1.76% mortality percentage, which was not different from either of the other two waterers. When the birds were weighed at 28 d from day of hatch, the broiler mean weights for the satellite, the Plasson, and the Plasson with ring were 923.6, 919.4, and 904.2 g, respectively (Table 6). There was no difference in body weights among the three types of waterers that were tested. The feed conversions at 28 d from day of hatch, 1.41, 1.42, and 1.41, were not different for the satellite, the Plasson, and the Plasson with ring, respectively (Table 6). There was also no difference in mortality percentage of the broilers at 28 d from day of hatch among the satellite, the Plasson, and the Plasson with ring, with mortality percentages of 2.28, 2.09, and 2.41%, respectively (Table 6).
DELAYED HOUSING OF BROILER CHICKS
the pens with the Plasson due to the broilers getting wet. From this study it may be concluded that delaying by 1 or 2 d when the birds are placed on feed and water after hatching does not affect body weight or feed conversion when the age of the broiler is calculated from the day of placement on feed and water. REFERENCES Andrews, L. D., 1974. Performance of broilers using plastic hanging waterers vs. troughs. Poultry Sci. 53:1898.(Abstr.) Andrews, L. D., 1976. Performance of broilers on different waterers. Ark. Farm Res. 23:3-7. Andrews, L. D., and G. C. Harris, Jr., 1971. Comparison of systems for watering broilers. Ark. Farm Res. 20:6-8. Andrews, L. D., and G. G Harris, Jr., 1975. Broiler performance and type of watering equipment. Poultry Sci. 54:1727. Andrews, L. D., L. K. Stamps, and R. W. Moore, 1991. Broiler performance on different types of waterers. Poultry Sci. 70(Suppl. l):5.(Abstr.) Harris, G. C, Jr., L. D. Andrews, and J. D. McMasters, Jr., 1970. Watering systems for broilers. Ark. Farm Res. 19(2):5. McMasters, J. D., Jr.., G. C. Harris, Jr., and T. L. Goodwin, 1971. Effects of nipple and trough watering systems on broiler performance. Poultry Sci. 50:432-435. SAS Institute, 1989. SAS® User's Guide: Statistics. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC.
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cantly smaller than those placed on the 1st d. This was to be expected, as those chicks were without feed and water for 2 d. However, after the chicks had been on feed for 7 d, the body weights of all groups of chicks were about equal. The mortality after 7 d from day of placement was higher in the group of chicks placed on the 3rd d. This again could be expected due to the stress on the chicks. At 49 d of age, there was no difference in the body weights of the broilers among the three groups of birds. In the testing of the three different types of waterers, there was no difference in broiler body weight, feed conversion, or mortality percentage except for mortality percentage at 7 d from day of placement among the waterers. Broilers on the Plasson waterer had the lowest rate of mortality at 28 d of age; however, this difference was not significant. None of the groups of broilers flocked excessively to the waterers; however, some birds did climb into the water in the satellite waterer and the Plasson with the ring. Some broilers were lost in the pens with the satellite and the Plasson with the ring due to drowning, getting caught in the ring, or just from getting too wet. There was no mortality in
1941