Influence of Photoperiod, Light Intensity and Their Interaction on Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Broilers Grown to Heavy Weights
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3923/ijps.2012.739.746Keywords:
Broiler, light-intensity, meat yield, photoperiod, stressAbstract
The effects of photoperiod, light intensity and their interaction on growth performance and carcass characteristics of broilers were investigated in 2 trials. The experiment was consisted of a factorial arrangement of treatments in a randomized complete block design. In each trial, all treatment groups were provided 23L:1D with 20 lx of intensity from placement to 7 d and then subjected to the treatments. The 9 treatments consisted of 3 photoperiods [long/continuous (23L:1D) from d 8-d 56; regular/intermittent (2L:2D) and short/non-intermittent (8L:16D) from d 8-d 48 and 23L:1D from d 49-d 56, respectively] and exposure to 3 light intensities (10, 5.0 and 0.5 lx) from d 8 through d 56 at 50% RH. Birds were provided a four phase-feeding program and water was provided ad libitum. Birds and feed were weighed on 0, 14, 28, 42 and 56 d of age for growth performance evaluation. At 56 d of age, 20 (10 males and 10 females) birds from each room were randomly selected, slaughtered and processed to determine weights and yields. Broilers subjected to a short/non-intermittent photoperiod showed the significantly (P<0.05) lowest BW, BW gain, feed intake, carcass weight and pectoralis major and minor weights as compared with broilers reared under long/continuous and regular/intermittent photoperiods. Feed conversion and mortality were not affected by treatments. There was no effect of light-intensity or photoperiod x light intensity interactions on all examined variables. Corticosterone concentrations were not affected by treatments, suggesting an absence of physiological stress. These results indicate that long/continuous and regular/intermittent photoperiods equally improved broiler performance as compared with a short/non-intermittent photoperiod with no significant effect due to light intensity treatments.
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