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Water Quality I: The Effect of Water Nitrate and pH on Broiler Growth Performance

Department of Animal Science, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37760-1071; Phone: (423) 974-7226; FAX: (423) 974-7448

Correspondence: Judith Grizzle

Broiler chickens grown to 6 wk of age, received water treatments of pH 5.75, 6.25, or 6.75 and nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃-N) levels of 1.90, 2.72, 3.55, or 5.19 mg/L. Low NO₃-N, 2.72 to 5.19 mg/L, depressed (P<. 05) g-wk body weights when averaged across all pH treatments ( = ph 6.25). The compounded effect of water pH 5.75 and low NO₃-N levels of 3.55 or 5.19 mg/L significantly (P<. 05) lowered broiler weights. Lowering the pH of the drinking water to 5.75 decreased water consumption (P<. 05) and may have contributed to the lower body weights during the final finisher period. Thymus and spleen weights were reduced (P<. 05) due to overall water nitrate treatment. As with body weights, thymus, liver, and spleen weights were lowest (P<. 05) among birds consuming water of pH 5.75 or 5.19 mg/L NO₃-N. This study shows that in the presence of low water pH (5.75) very low NO₃-N levels (5.19 mg/L) will adversely affect broiler growth.

Key Words: Broiler • nitrate • pH • water quality