title: Electrolyzed water as novel technology to improve hygiene of drinking water for dairy ewes.
abstract: Tap water alone (TW) or treated with 3% of slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) were used in this experiment to study its effect on water quality, blood biochemical parameters and milk yield and composition. Each type of water was supplied to one group of 10 milking ewes for 25 days. Weekly water samples from troughs were taken. On days 1, 12 and 25, milk yield was measured, and milk and blood samples were taken. SAEW reduced (P < 0.05) bacterial counts (aerobic mesophilic, total coliform and streptococcus). Blood gases, biochemical parameters and milk yield and its composition were not affected (P > 0.05). SAEW can be used at 3% rate as a powerful and economic agent for sanitizing drinking water for dairy ewes with no effects on animal performance.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Tecnológico Agrario de Castilla y León, Subdirección de Investigación y Tecnología, Finca Zamadueñas, Ctra. Burgos, km 119, 47071 Valladolid, Spain. Electronic address: bodrodra@itacyl.es.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bodas
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Bartolomé
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Tabernero De Paz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Posado
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Olmedo
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Martín-Diana
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D058491:Bacterial Load / Q000662:veterinary; D003612:Dairying / Q000379:methods*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000592:standards; D004572:Electrolysis / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006920:Hygiene / Q000592:standards; D007774:Lactation; D012756:Sheep; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water
keywords: Blood acid–base status; Milk; Sheep nutrition; Water quality