Why is this research important for Alberta ag?
The implication of good quality water on bird's health is known and includes improved weight gain and production, better immune response, and solid overall health. Some of the constituents of concern in raw water are calcium carbonate and bicarbonate, nitrate, sulfates, sodium, and microorganisms.
No data is available relevant to constituents and their levels present in drinking water made available for egg layers in Alberta. The poultry industry also heavily relies on vaccination to ensure the chicken are protected against various diseases to maintain optimum production. Of the 12 vaccines given to layer pullets, some of the vaccines are administered via drinking water using distilled water as the vaccine diluent. It is not known if the quality of drinking water provided to layers post-vaccination could negatively influence the vaccine titers hence serological response to these vaccines although the production losses associated with vaccine failures are on the rise.
Researchers believe there is an association between drinking water quality post-vaccination and efficacy of current vaccination programs employed by the table egg layer industry. This research aims to provide guidance to the egg layer industry stressing the importance of providing good quality water that enhance vaccine induced immune response.
What benefits can producers expect from this research?
By establishing a quality of drinking water baseline, researchers can see if these parameters are influencing bird health and vaccine-induced immunity. This data will provide an indication of whether intervention is required in order to address the health of the birds.
Additionally, this research will train highly qualified personnel (HQP) to be employed for the benefit of the Canadian poultry industry.
How will these research findings reach producers on-farm?
Outcomes will be shared with poultry producers and other stakeholders through meetings, publications in magazines and newsletters, posted on websites (Canadian Poultry, Alberta Chicken Producers, thepoultrysite.com), and presented through poster and oral presentations at industry meetings.