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By Wiebe van der Sluis, Rooster 45, the Netherlands
It is often thought that an unlimited water supply is beneficial to poultry production results. In itself this is not strange, but more important is how the water supplied is made available to the animals. As the use of nipple drinkers is more or less the norm, the water requirement of the animals and the water supply must complement one another. Therefore, it is essential to know how the optimal water supply can be achieved.
“It is a misconception to assume that a greater water supply from the nipple drinker increases animal water consumption,” states Richard Wentzel, director of Impex Barneveld, one of the oldest nipple makers in the world.
Nipples should supply no more water than can be consumed to avoid spillage, wet litter and resulting footpad lesions.
He adds that an animal, as well as a person, can best satisfy its thirst by drinking the proper amount. “When you are thirsty, you do not open the tap to the maximum to satisfy your thirst. If you did so, there would be considerable water spillage and you would most likely get a wet face and clothing,” Wentzel continues. “It is better to adjust the water supply from the tap to the amount of water needed to drink without spillage. This is no different with animals. They too need a means to optimally satisfy their water requirement, and the means - nipple drinkers - must be easily accessible and supply no more water than necessary for optimal consumption and production.”Page 1 of 2 | Next Page »
Source: World Poultry, volume 27, no. 1, 2011
