EFFECT OF SALINE DRINKING-WATER ON LAYING HEN PRODUCTIVITY

Studies were conducted on two farms for housing of Isa Brown hybrid he ns, matched by microclimatic parameters and layer mash. Different qual ity of drinking water was the only variable which may have influenced the health and productivity of hens. Organoleptic, physicochemical and bacteriological parameters of drinking water were compared between a control farm supplied with appropriate town water and experimental far m supplied with inappropriate underground water. Electrical conductivi ty (3 037 +/- 1 714 mu S/cm), and the concentration of chloride (612.8 +/- 152.2 mg/l) and sodium (466.3 +/- 115.6 mg/l) were significantly increased in the water supplied to the experimental group as compared to the control group of hens, indicating the former to be saline water . Other organoleptic, physicochemical and bacteriological parameters a lso exceeded the allowed limits. Productivity indicators, such as egg production (%), eggshell weight (g), eggshell thickness (mu m) and egg shell defects (%) were poorer in the experimental group, which could h ave been ascribed to the use of saline drinking water. However, statis tical analysis revealed no statistically significant differences in eg g and shell weight, and shell thickness (p > 0.05).