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Water Quality III: The Effect of Water Nitrate and Bacteria on Broiler Breeder Performance

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

J. M. Grizzle

Broiler breeder hens received water containing 1.90, 3.55, 5.19, or 10.38 mg/L nitrate-nitrogen (o, 10, 20, or 40 mg/L added sodium nitrate) and 0 or 100 CFRU/mL Escherichia coli (E. coli) during a 40-wk production cycle. Hen day egg production (HDP) was not affected by treatment with nitrate or bacteria alone. Combined E. coli and 10.38 mg/L nitrate-nitrogen treatment resulted in egg production significantly (P. 05) lower than that in hens drinking only E. coli-contaminated water. Dietary water treatment did not affect follicle size, but fewer (P. 05) rapidly growing small follicles (10 mm) and more (P. 05) atretic follicles occurred on the ovary of hens as reproductive age increased from 15 to 40 wk of egg production. Neither water treatment affected fertility of eggs; however, birds consuming 10.38 mg/L nitrate-nitrogen laid eggs with the lowest (P. 05) fertile hatchability. Decreased fertile hatchability may result from lowered vitamin A availability, as nitrate toxicity has been reported to impair vitamin A metabolism. Results from this experiment further confirm the negative effect of low-level water nitrate-nitrogen on domestic poultry.

Key Words: Bacteria • broiler breeder • nitrate • water quality