The roles of protein level and diet form in water consumption and abdominal fat pad deposition of broilers.

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the possible relationship of water intake and water/feed ratios in explaining abdominal fat changes associated with changes in dietary protein level and diet form. In Experiment 1, day-old male chicks from two commercial broiler stocks were fed diets containing 26, 22, and 17% protein from 0 to 19 days of age. Chicks fed the 26% protein diet consumed more water, had higher water/feed ratios, and had less abdominal fat than chicks fed lower protein diets. Chicks fed the 22% protein diet were intermediate to the 26 and 17% protein treatments in water consumption, water/feed ratios, and abdominal fat. In Experiment 2, day-old male chicks from two commercial broiler stocks were fed a diet in either mash or crumbled form from 0 to 20 days of age. Chicks fed crumbles had heavier body weights, consumed more feed and water, and had more abdominal fat than birds fed the mash diet. Superior body weights of birds fed the crumbled diet appeared to be due to higher relative growth rates immediately after hatch.