Two factors determine how much LS-PWT^2® is needed on a given farm: end-use of LS-PWT^2® (crop acidification or chlorine management) and characteristics of the water source (pH and alkalinity). Refer to the rate chart for the appropriate amount in each situation.

The pH of the drinking water should not go below a pH of 3.0.

Yes. Alkalinity is a measure of the carbonates in a water source that will bind to the LS-PWT^2® or any water acidifier. Only after all of the carbonates in the water are bound by the LS-PWT^2® will the pH begin to drop. The higher the alkalinity of a water source, the more LS-PWT^2® or any other acid will be needed to reach the target pH.

LS-PWT^2® is a strong, mineral acid while citric acid and vinegar are weak organic acids. LS-PWT^2® has a low addition rate and a pleasing taste to birds while organic acids such as citric acid taste bitter causing birds to reduce water consumption.

LS-PWT^2® should be run for the first 7-10 days the birds are placed in the house, around feed changes, and prior to processing. More information about usage for different types of birds can be found here.

pH is the measure of the number of hydrogen ions in solution. The more hydrogen ions in a solution, the lower the pH will be.

Yes, if it is acidified with a mineral acid such as LS-PWT^2®. Because mineral acids easily donate hydrogen ions into a solution, they have a low addition rate and a pleasing taste to birds.

If you have never used LS-PWT^2® before, it is recommended to use it for the first time while the house is empty. Because LS-PWT^2® cleans the water lines so thoroughly, dislodging lots of biofilm and residual material in the lines, a high pressure flush is needed to remove that debris from the water lines. Using LS-PWT^2® with birds in the house for the first time will make it difficult to remove all of the debris dislodged by the cleaning process possibly causing clogged nipples and birds to ingest the dirty material.

A sample of the water can be taken either at the well or at the entrance to the house. A pool test kit or test strips can be used to determine the pH and alkalinity of the water source. Once that is known, use the chart below to determine addition rate.

No. Unlike antibiotics and other water additives, LS-PWT^2® is very stable when mixed. A stock solution of LS-PWT^2® will maintain its potency for at least 30 days.

Yes. By acidifying the crop, LS-PWT^2® helps the bird in digestion and the maintenance of healthy gut microflora.

Many have experienced success with water acidification programs that are properly designed to deliver the right pH at the right times.. But given that water acidification doesn’t seem to change the pH in the intestines, how does it work? The answer seems to lie in the difference between the original pattern of gut movement and digestion in birds and the altered pattern on modern commercial diets. There are several areas in a bird’s gut where movement is actually a two-way street. When a bird was eating whole grain and bugs, the meal would go from the proventriculus to the gizzard for grinding. Then the gizzard would send the meal backwards to the proventriculus for another acid bath. This might happen 5 or 6 times until the meal was ground finely enough to move on to the intestines. In a commercial mash or pelleted diet, this back and forth movement between the gizzard and the proventriculus is dramatically reduced so there is very little acid contact time of the meal in the proventriculus. With a diet that includes whole grains this back and forth movement is frequently repeated before the meal is allowed to enter the intestine increasing acid contact time many fold. The most plausible explanation for the efficacy of acidifying water below a pH of 4.0 in improving performance and in impacting Salmonella and necrotic enteritis is that by acidifying the ingesta in the crop, that low-pH contact time lost to impaired gizzard reflux is being compensated for.

No. It is the debris being dislodged from the dirty drinker system that could possible clog the lines if it isn’t flushed out promptly and thoroughly.

The first time you use LS-PWT^2® in a house for cleaning, it should only be left in the lines about 8 hours due to the large amounts of debris that is removed during the cleaning process. This will facilitate the removal of this gelatinous material from the drinker system. After LS-PWT^2® has been used to clean the drinker system, then it can be left in the lines as long as 24 hours prior to flushing.

At the end of every flock and after running any type of water additive such as electrolytes or vitamins.

Yes. This will remove any residual material from the water additives that can be a food source for bacteria.

Yes. LS-PWT^2® is approved by the FDA as an animal feed additive.