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Broiler Drinker Systems and Seasonal Effects on Eviscerated Carcass and Leaf Fat Weights

University of Maryland, Poultry Science Department, College Park, MD 20740; Phone: (410) 651-9111; FAX: (410) 651-9187

Lewis E. Carr and Veronica Byrd

University of Maryland, Agricultural Engineering Department, College Park, MD 20740

Correspondence: Charles J. Wabeck

Nipple and cup type drinker systems have become popular in broiler growout because of the improvements in bird health performance and litter condition. A series of experiments were conducted to determine if there was a seasonal and drinker influence on eviscerated and fat pad percentages.

In all experiments, mixed broiler chicks were reared to 6 wk of age in 500-bird windowless chambers which contained bell, cup, roaster (large) nipple, and broiler (small) nipple drinkers. Ten males were randomly removed from each chamber and processed.

Bell drinker treatment resulted in significantly greater live weights in the spring, summer, and fall. In the spring, the small broiler nipple drinkers resulted in significantly larger yields than the large (roaster) nipple, cup, and bell systems. There were no significant differences in eviscerated yields between treatments for the summer and fall seasons. Fat pad yields were not affected by season or drinker system.

Key Words: Drinker systems • eviscerated carcass yield • leaf fat yield