EFFECTS OF THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF SATELLITE CHICK-WATERERS IN CONJUNCTION WITH NIPPLE-DRINKERS ON THE MORTALITY AND PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKS FROM YOUNG AND OLD DAMS

Two runs of one experiment were conducted to study the effects of the presence or absence of satellite (SAT) chick-waterers in conjunction with nipple-drinkers on the mortality and productive performance of mixed-sex, broiler chicks grown to 42 days of age. Data were combined for analysis. The chicks were obtained from dams 29, 31, 61 and 65 wk of age. The treatments were: 1) chicks from 61- and 65-wk-old dams, nipple-drinkers only; 2) chicks from 29- and 31-wk-old dams, nipple-drinkers only; 3) chicks from 61- and 65-wk-old dams, nipple-drinkers plus one SAT-waterer per replication; 4) chicks from 29- and 31-wk-old dams, nipple-drinkers plus one SAT-waterer. The SAT waterers were removed after 11 days. Routine management procedures were followed. The chicks from the older dams (61 and 65 wk of age) were heavier (1.60 versus 1.58 kg, P less than .05) tha those from the young dams (29 and 31 wk of age). Chicks from the young dams had better feed conversion (1.89 versus 1.93 g/g, P less than .01). The age of dam had no effect on the mortality of the broiler chicks. The presence or absence of SAT-waterers had no effect on body weight or feed conversion. A difference (P less than .05) occurred in mortality through 42 days of age; the chicks using the SAT waterers had a lower mortality level (3.23 versus 4.22%), than those using nipple-drinkers. The presence of ST-waterers in conjunction with nipple-drinkers appears to improve livability in broiler chicks.