Effects of drinking water temperature in summer on growth performance, water consumption, surface temperature, blood parameters, and intestinal development of geese from 14 to 42 days of age

This study aimed to investigate the effects of drinking water temperature on growth performance, water consumption, surface temperature, blood parameters, and intestinal development in geese, and to determine the optimal drinking water temperature for geese aged 14 to 42 days during summer. A total of 192 14-day-old male Yuzhou white geese were randomly allocated into four groups with eight replicate pens per group, corresponding to different drinking water temperatures: ambient temperature (T_C, 28-37°C), 14°C (T₁), 21°C (T₂), and 37°C (T₃). The results showed that decreasing the drinking water temperature significantly increased body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), and average daily feed intake (ADFI) (P < 0.05). Geese in groups T₁ and T₂ consumed more water per day compared to those in the T_C and T₃ groups (P < 0.05). Drinking both cold and hot water (T₁ and T₃) reduced surface temperatures around the eyes and underwings (P < 0.05). The provision of hot water significantly decreased blood levels of total protein (TP), globulin (GLO), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4) (P < 0.05). Adjusting water temperature did not significantly promote intestinal development (P > 0.05). However, drinking hot water (T₃) significantly reduced the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in the ileum (P < 0.05). Overall, these findings indicate that providing drinking water at 14°C and 21°C improves growth performance and water consumption, whereas water at 37°C may have certain adverse effects on geese. Under the conditions of this experiment, the optimal drinking water temperature for geese from 14 to 42 days of age is recommended to be 21°C.