Effect Of Betaine Supplemented With Drinking Water On Water Intake Pattern Of Broiler Chickens Exposed To Heat Stress

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at poultry farm, animal resources dept. college of agriculture, the university of Kufa during April, 6, 2010- May, 7, 2010, aimed to knowledge pattern of water intake during entire day of 4, 5, and 6 weeks of age for broiler chickens have being got betaine with drinking water. Five hundred and forty , day old of unsexed Hubbard Classic broiler chickens were reared on litter for two stages: the first was extended 1-21 day old with no treatment, whereas the second stage was extended 22-42 day old. Birds were randomly allocated into 6 treatment groups ( 3 replicates each, 30 birds per replicate) as follows; T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, and T6 which mean 0, 250, 400, 550, 700, and 800 mg betaine / L drinking water respectively. Results revealed no significant differences between treatment groups in water intake during moderate period (1and 4) of day for 4 and 6 weeks of age. A significant superiority in water intake was noticed in T2, T4, T5 and T6 in comparison with T1 (control) on 5 week of age during same two periods (1 and 4) of the day. Water intake pattern has been in harmony with house temperature profile, that can be seen through coincidence water intake and house temperature peaks in 4,5, and 6 weeks of age. In general, betaine treatment groups surpassed control group in water intake during hot period (2 and 3) of the day.