Research note: effect of electronic treatment of drinking water on growth performance of broiler chickens

Three electronic devices used to treat drinking water were compared with untreated city well water in a broiler growth performance trial. In each treatment feed conversion and BW were measured in 16 replicate pens of 60 female broilers at 29, 42, and 49 days of age. Two of the devices increased dissolved oxygen content of the water and reduced conductivity and microorganism count. One of these reduced broiler mortality (P = .065), decreased pH (P = .062), and increased Fe and Mn concentration in the water. The other increased water temperature, Ti, and Mn but reduced the concentration of Cl, Al, Ca, Cr, Mg, and Sr in the water. Neither the third device, an electrostatic water treatment, nor the other devices affected BW (P = .586) or feed conversion (P = .564) at 49 days of age. No significant treatment differences (P less than or equal to .05) in hematocrit, bursa of Fabricius weight, or tibial ash weight were observed at 21 days of age.