Wet foods for poultry

Historically feeding of wet mashes to poultry has not been recommended for use in large-scale commercial poultry production, on the basis that it does not offer any nutritional advantage and is difficult to apply. However, food soaked and re-dried is utilised more efficiently and recent work has shown repeatedly that mixing conventional foods with sufficient water to make a porridgy consistency (typically 1.5-2.0 kg of water per kg of air-dry food) either increases the proportional retention of nutrients by broilers or increases voluntary food intake. Foods of lower nutrient density (e.g. with a high content of cereal) can therefore be used to get the desired growth rate. The improvement in digestion with wet feeding is not likely to be due to activation of endogenous enzymes in the feed but probably involves more rapid penetration of digestive juices into food particles, more rapid and complete digestion and thus the opportunity for higher food intakes. The benefits are seen with both male and female broilers and are greater the earlier in life the wet feeding is started. Growing ducks and laying hens are also more efficient with wetfeeding. Practical advantages of giving food in the wet form include the ability to use high levels of cereals without pelleting, the opportunity to fine-tune the composition of the diet on a daily basis (e.g. amino acids, medicines) and the great reduction in dust in intensive houses. Disadvantages include the danger of wet litter and dirty feathers, risk of spread of disease and the high cost of feeding equipment. So far wet feeding is not in commercial use although it might be of particular benefit in hot environments.