EFFECT OF DRINKING WATER pH ON PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE AND BACTERIAL LOAD OF SONALI CHICKEN

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of drinking water pH on production performance, dressing yield parameter and microbial load of sonali cross breed chicken. For this purpose 120 day old chicks were randomly assigned into four treatment groups namely (T0, T1, T2, and T3) having three replication in each treatment group with 10 birds in each replication. Experimental birds in T1, T2 and T3 were provided drinking water @ 5.5, 6.5 and 7.5 pH level. Final live weight gain and feed efficiency of birds were not found insignificantly different among the treatment groups (p>0.05). Highest body weight gain was found (863.60±25.21g) in T2 group that was received @ 6.5 pH in water compared to control group T0 and the lowest body weight gain was found (794.60±27.02g) in T3 group that was received @ 7.5 pH in water statistically similar to the control group T0. Meat yield parameters did not show significant differences among the treatment groups compared to control group. This study is also indicated that microbial load was significantly (p<0.01) reduced in the acidic groups when compared to the control alkaline group. Highest E. coli count was found (233.33±12.01) in T3 groups and lowest E. coli count was found (170.00±11.54) in T1 groups. Highest salmonella count was found (225.00±14.43) in T3 groups and lowest was count (145.00±8.66) in T2 groups. Total production cost for per kilogram weight was lowest in T2 (142.00±1.12TK.) group and highest in T1 (142.80±1.36Tk.) group. The net profit from per kilogram sonali chicken was statistically similar (p>0.05). The highest profit was found in T2 (18.00±1.2Tk.) group and lowest was found in T3 (13.8±1.18Tk.) group. Based on the result it could be concluded that controlling pH in the drinking water at the effective level has a statistical similar in production performance and potential effect on bacterial load of sonali chicken.