Effects of Drinking Diluted Deep Sea Water on Growth Performance and Immune Response in Broiler Chickens

Deep sea water (DSW) has emerged as an alternative source of drinking water, it worth to examine whether the DSW exerts any difference in animal responses upon drinking. This study aims to investigate the effect of drinking DSW in broiler chicken. A total of 400 Ross 308 broilers were allocated into 4 treatments with 5 replications (20 birds per pen per a treatment) during a 28-d feeding periods. Control birds were provided with fresh water for drinking. The DSW was diluted with deionized water (W) in the ratio of 1:80 (1DSW:80W), 1:40 (1DSW:40W) and 1:20 (1DSW:20W). The diets for both control and 1DSW:80W groups were supplemented with 0.18% of food-grade salt to satisfy the minimal salt needs. Water and feed were available for ad libitum consumption for all the groups. Total salt intake of birds drinking 1DSW:80W and 1DSW:20W was higher (p<0.05) than 1DSW:40W and control groups. Average daily water intake, water to feed intake ratio, mortality and serum IgG levels were not different (p>0.05) between treatments and control group. However, nutrient utilization of 1DSW:40W group was improved (p<0.05) when compared with the control. The relative weight of thymus and bursa of fabricius in 1DSW:40W and 1DSW:20W groups were greater (p<0.05) than 1DSW:80W and the control. The DSW might be successfully used as drinking water to broiler chickens and its serum IgG is slightly improved at the level of 1DSW:20W. However, a total salt intake equilibration is a pre-requisite for the effective DSW utilization.