Studies on heavy metals pollution in poultry farms in relation to production performance

A total of 48 water and feed samples (24 each) as well as 72samples of brioler muscle, liver and kidney (24 each) were collectedfrom three broiler farms in Sharkia govemorate during a period fromOctober 1999 to October 2000. Also, a total of 40 water and feedsamples (20 each) and 20 egg samples were collected from two layerfarms during a period from January 1999 to June 2000. All samples wereprepared for dectection and determination of heavy metal residues(cadmium, lead, copper and zinc).(1) Heavy metals in drinkin~ water of poultry farms:A verage of cadmium, lead, copper and zinc residues in watersamples collected from broiler farms were 0.103, 0.427, 0.048 and 1.580ppm respectively, while the average concentrations of these metals in theexamined water samples collected from layer farms were 0.113, 0.365,0.141 and 1.092 ppm, respectively. All the examined water samples hadcadmium residues above the permissible limit. Also, (91.67%) and(80%) of examined samples having lead concentration above thepermissible limit in water samples of broiler and layer farms,respectively. Copper and zinc in all examined water samples were lowerthan th permissible limits.