An association of hardness of water with incidence of fatty liver syndrome in laying hens

Twenty-one samples of water were collected from commercial egg production farms in Georgial with or without a history of fatty liver syndrome. These samples plus a sample of water from the University of Georgia Poultry Farm were analyzed for various mineral elements by atomic absorption, direct reading emission spectroscopy and by neutron activation. Water samples from farms with a history of fatty liver syndrome had signficantly more calcium, magnesium, strontium, sodium, iron and barium than water samples from farms reporting no significant problem with fatty liver syndrome. Levels of manganese, boron, copper zinic and aluminum were not significantly different. Although the results do not prove that water quality is the cause of the disease, they do demonstrate an association of hardness of water with fatty liver syndrome that should be further investigated.