1. Local Alabama Aquifer Water Quality Effects on Broiler Production and Processing J.B. Hess, J.P. Blake, S.F. Bilgili and K.S. Macklin Auburn Poultry Science Department

2. Broilers and Water Quality Water Availability – Drinking – Several gallons per bird – Evaporative Cooling Water Quality – Drinking – Bird Health Intestinal – Processing – 4-8 gal/bird 1 million birds/week

3. Water Sources Broiler Farms – Wells – Municipal Processing Plants – Wells Hatcheries – Municipal

4. Hatcheries Clean, Precise – Can’t Afford Issues Evaporative Cooling – Humidity in Incubators Sanitation - Chemicals Vaccination – Live Organisms

5. Poultry Industry North Central – Cullman, Marshall, Blount South East – Coffee, Dale, Barbour, Pike, Crenshaw North West – Franklin, Winston West Central/Central – Pickens, Greene, Hale, Tuscaloosa

7. North Central Alabama Primarily the Pottsville Aquifer High Iron Levels Stain Equipment Cause Leaks – Wet litter – Footpad Health, Increased Bacteria, Increased ammonia Processing – Iron Precipitates

8. Well Water Calcium Levels PPM

9. Well Water Iron Levels PPM

10. Processing – Iron Precipitates Water In Processing Plants Iron Precipitates – Clog Filters – On final Product - Contamination Remediation – Filtration – Constant Battle – Change pH of Water

12. Southeast Alabama Ripley, Nanfalia, Confining Units, Crystal River Aquifers Sand Iron Sodium

13. Well Water Sodium Levels PPM

14. Excess Salt Poultry – Narrow Range for Health Too much in Feed – Drink More Water Too Much in Water – Drink More Water – Compounds Problem Nutritionist – Can adjust Feed Salt Level if Saline Water – But Only if All Customers are on the Same Aquifer

15. Sodium and Litter Moisture Percent 0.15% 0.20% 0.25% 0.30%

16. Sodium and Foot Pad Burns Percent 0.15% 0.20% 0.25% 0.30%

18. Northwest Alabama Tuscumbia-Fort Payne, Bangor Aquifers, Pottville as well Hardness – Mechanical Problems Farms, Process and Hatcheries – Calcium over 60 ppm – Scale Buildup

20. West Central Alabama Gordo and Eutaw Aquifers Low pH – 5 – 7 – Biologically – This has some advantages – Equipment – Can eat metal causing leaks – Processing Sanitation Chemical – Basic pH Sodium – High Sodium – Too much water Consumption – Wet litter

21. West Central Analysis 47% Under pH 6 3% Over pH 8 Lowest – 4.9 Equipment Life Sodium – Most were 2 ppm – Highest 74 ppm

22. Well Water Sodium Levels PPM

23. Avg. Sodium Levels – Wells vs Municipal PPM

24. Conclusion Local Aquifer Water Quality is an Issue in Poultry Health Local Aquifer Water Quality is an Issue in Mechanical Aspects of Hatcheries and Processing Plants Examining Local Water Quality Will Allow Farmers to Predict What Mitigation May be Necessary

25. Local Alabama Aquifer Water Quality Effects on Broiler Production and Processing J.B. Hess, J.P. Blake, S.F. Bilgili and K.S. Macklin Auburn Poultry Science Department