This study was carried out at the faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Moshtohor, Benha University to investigate the effect of restricted time to water per day on the body weight, feed consumption, feed conversion, dressing %, moisture contents of the droppings, and on the behavior of gees. There was 40 goslings aged 2 weeks randomly divided into 4 groups; the first group had continuous access to drinking water day and night (control), the second group had access to water for 12 hours during the day, the third had access 9 hours per day (4.5 hours in the morning and 4.5 hours in the afternoon), while the last one had access to water for only 6 hours per day (3 hours in the morning and 3 hours in the afternoon). The obtained results indicated that during the study, the best feed conversion was obtained in cast e of 12 hours access to water, followed by control and 9 hours, while those on 6 hours access to water had the poorest feed conversion. The dressed weight of carcass and % and weight of organs were directly dependent on the live body weight. Weight of liver, gizzard, and pancreas were best in case of 12 hours access to water and control, while the weight of abdominal fat, heart, kidney, gall bladder and heart did not differ between treatments. There was direct relationship between the hours of access to water and the moisture % as it significantly affected with the access time to water, and this was reflected on dryness and cleanness of the litter. The behavioral patterns were significantly affected by access time to water. Feeding, drinking, preening and social behaviors increased with the restricted access time to water, while playing and resting behaviors increased with the increase access time. From the above results it is concluded that 12 hours access to drinking water is sufficient instead of continuous supply of water as it results in good performance, saving feed and water, and led to increase in playing and resting time, lack of these behaviors, cause boredom, resulting in behavioral abnormalities. |
