Lighting programs for broilers that reduce leg problems without loss of performance or yield

• Published in: Poultry science Vol. 75; no. 11; pp. 1345 - 1350
• Main Authors: Renden, J.A. (Auburn University, AL.), Moran, E.T. Jr, Kincaid, S.A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.11.1996
• Subjects: Animals; Body Weight - physiology; BONE DISEASES; BREAST BLISTERS; BROILER CHICKENS; CANAL ANIMAL; CARCASS COMPOSITION; CARCASSE; CARCASSES; CARNE DE POLLO; CHICKEN MEAT; Chickens - growth & development; Chickens - physiology; COCKS; COMPOSICION DE LA CANAL; COMPOSITION DE LA CARCASSE; COQ; DARKNESS; DEBILIDAD DE LAS PATAS; DERMATITE; DERMATITIS; DURACION; DURATION; DUREE; DYSCHONDROPLASIA; EFFICACITE ALIMENTAIRE; EFICIENCIA DE CONVERSION DEL PIENSO; ENFERMEDADES OSEAS; FAIBLESSE DES PATTES; FEED CONVERSION EFFICIENCY; GALLOS; Housing, Animal; HUESOS DE LOS MIEMBROS; Incidence; LEAN; LEG WEAKNESS; Light; LIGHT REGIMES; Lighting; LIMB BONES; Male; MEAT CUTS; MEAT YIELD; MORTALIDAD; MORTALITE; MORTALITY; OBSCURIDAD; OBSCURITE; OS DES MEMBRES; Osteochondrodysplasias - epidemiology; Osteochondrodysplasias - physiopathology; Osteochondrodysplasias - veterinary; OSTEOPATHIE; PESO; PIECE DE VIANDE; PIEZAS DE CARNE; POIDS; POLLO DE ENGORDE; POULET DE CHAIR; Poultry Diseases - epidemiology; Poultry Diseases - mortality; Poultry Diseases - physiopathology; Random Allocation; REGIME LUMINEUX; REGIMENES DE LUZ; RENDEMENT EN VIANDE; RENDIMIENTO CARNICO; TIBIA; Tibia - abnormalities; Tibia - growth & development; Tibia - physiology; Time Factors; VIANDE DE POULET; WEIGHT
• ISSN: 0032-5791; 1525-3171
• DOI: 10.3382/ps.0751345

This study tested the effects of light schedules on performance and yields of broiler chickens. In Experiment 1, light treatments during Days 1 to 49 of age were: 1) 23 h light (L):1 h dark (D); 2) 16L:8D;3) 16L: 3D:1L:4D; and 4) 16L:2D:1L:2D:1L:2D. In Experiment 2, Light Treatments 1 and 2 were the same as Treatments 1 and 4, respectively, in Experiment 1; 3) 23L:1D Days 1 to 7, 16L:8D Days 8 to 14, the light period was increased by 2 h/wk during Days 15 to 35, and 23L:1D Days 36 to 42; and 4) 23L:1D Days 1 to 7, 16L:8D Days 8 to 14, 16L:3D: 2L:3D Days 15 to 21, 16L:2D:4L:2D Days 22 to 28, 16L: 1D:6L:1D Days 29 to 35, and 23L:1D thereafter. In Experiment 1, BW was greater in Treatment 4 than Treatment 2 at 22 (708 vs 642 g) and 49 d (2,948 vs 2,797 g), percentage leg problems was lower in Treatments 2 to 4 (9, 10 and 6%, respectively) than in Treatment 1 (20%), and percentage Grade A was greater in Treatment 4 than Treatment 2 (60 vs 46%) at 49 d. In Experiment 2, BW was greater in Treatment 1 (692 g) than Treatments 3 (617 g) and 4 (620 g) at 21 d, and the incidence of tibial dyschondroplasia was lower in Treatment 2 (3.1%) than Treatment 3 (15.3%) at 42 d. There were no differences for mortality among treatments in either experiment.