COMPARISON OF ACIDIC AND ALKALINE WATER ON THE GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF COMMERCIAL BROILER

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the comparative effects of acidic and alkaline drinking water containing Acetic acid and Sodium Bicarbonate on growth performance, feed conversion ratio (FCR), livability, mortality and carcass traits in commercial broilers. The study location was the Central Poultry farm of Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, from 16 August to 12 September (28 days), 2023. A total of 210, day old broiler chicks (Efficiency Plus-Hubbard) were randomly and equally distributed to 7 groups having 3 replicates of 10 birds in each. The birds were grouped as T0, T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 group of which T0 was with normal water (control group) and T1, T2 and T3 drinking water was treated with 0.25ml/L, 0.33ml/L and 0.5ml/L Acetic Acid respectively. T4, T5 and T6 group was treated with Sodium Bicarbonate Powder at the rate of 0.5gm/L, 1gm/L and 1.5gm/L drinking water. Data were analyzed by using ANOVA with SPSS version 22. The highest environmental temperature during research period was 38.70C with 96% humidity. The feed intake (gm/broiler) at the age of 28 days in T0, T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 was 2327.33, 2362.33, 2330.66, 2323.00, 2235.33, 2412.00 and 2293.33, respectively. The live body weight in T0, T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 was 1609.00, 1772.00, 1741.33, 1698.00, 1653.33, 1727.00 and 1629.33, respectively. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) in T0, T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 was 1.44, 1.33, 1.34, 1.36, 1.35, 1.39 and 1.40, respectively. The carcass weight in T0, T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 was 986.00, 1051.33, 1041.33, 1022.00, 995.33, 1036.00 and 1002.00, respectively. In T0, T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 livability was 93.33%, 100%, 96.67%, 100%, 96.67%, 96.67% and 93.33% respectively and mortality was 6.67%, 0.00%, 3.33%, 0.00%, 3.33%, 3.33% and 6.67% respectively. Considering the above facts it may be concluded that Acetic Acid is better than Sodium Bicarbonate in production performance of commercial broiler and specifically supplementation of 0.33ml/L of Acetic Acid had positive significant effect on feed intake, live body weight, carcass weight, FCR, livability and mortality. Therefore, Acetic Acid can be used in broiler diet for better performance than Sodium Bicarbonate.