Effect of water: food intake ratios in laying hens on food metabolisable energy

It has been hypothesised that a relatively high water intake results in a lower food digestibility. The influence of water:food ratios on the metabolisability of a diet was investigated. With ad libitum water and food the water:food ratios varied between 1.17 and 2.47 and showed a positive relationship with metabolisable energy. In groups of hens receiving 40 g food and water sufficient to provide water:food ratios of 1, 2, 3 and 4, the results showed a non-significant negative regression of apparent metabolisable energy with water:food ratios.