Abstract
A carbonated drinking water system was installed in a cage layer facility and its effects on performance of 46- and 86-wk old commercial laying hens was evaluated during a 12-wk period in the summer. The water system effectively acidified the drinking water (pH 4.73 for carbonated water versus 7.67 for normal tap water). Overall, egg specific gravity (Weeks 1-12) of eggs laid by older hens was improved (P<.06) by providing a constant source of carbonated drinking water versus those given only tap drinking water (1.0790 versus 1.0776 g/cm3). Egg production, egg weight, egg mass, feed consumption, and feed efficiency were not different (P>.05) for hens provided carbonated versus tap drinking water. Thus, a carbonated drinking water system can be operated efficiently in a commercial cage layer facility and can help improve eggshell quality of flocks experiencing shell quality problems during the summer.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 194-199 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Journal of Applied Poultry Research |
| Volume | 1 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1992 |
Keywords
- Carbonated drinking water
- Egg specific gravity
- Improved eggshell quality
- Laying hens
- Production performance
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Animal Science and Zoology