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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Mississippi State, Mississippi » Poultry Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #343872
Title: Influence of light-sources and photoperiod on growth performance, carcass characteristics and health indices of broilers grown to heavy weights

Author
item Olanrewaju, Hammed
item MILLER, W - Advanced Animal Eye Care
item MASLIN, W - Mississippi State University
item Collier, Stephanie
item Purswell, Joseph - Jody
item Branton, Scott

Submitted to: Poultry Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/26/2017
Publication Date: 3/15/2018
Citation: Olanrewaju, H.A., Miller, W.W., Maslin, W.R., Collier, S.D., Purswell, J.L., Branton, S.L. 2018. Influence of light-sources and photoperiod on growth performance, carcass characteristics and health indices of broilers grown to heavy weights. Poultry Science. 97(4):1109-1116.

Interpretive Summary: Most governments around the world including the USA have passed measures to phase out incandescent (ICD) bulbs due to its inefficiency in favor of more energy-efficient lighting alternatives, including cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL), compact fluorescent lamps (CFL), and light emitting diodes (LED) among others. Although, most of the research involving light management has focused on light sources, photoperiods, or each in combination with other environmental factors, more studies are still necessary to examine the effects of light sources in combination with photoperiods to understand the adequate light program (light sources, photoperiod) that can maximize growth performances of modern broilers grown to heavy weights without any negative impact on poultry welfare. In each trial of the 4 trials, we evaluated the effects of light sources and photoperiod on growth performance, carcass characteristics and health indices of broilers. The results indicated that the BW, BW gain, live weight, and carcass weights of birds reared under Cool-PSF-LED were different in comparison to birds reared under ICD, but feed intake, feed to gain ratio, and mortality were not affected. Moreover, broilers subjected to short/non-intermittent photoperiod had lowest body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, carcass weight, and pectoralis major and minor weights compared with other 2 photoperiods. There was no effect of treatments on most carcass characteristics. There was no effect of treatments on welfare indices, suggesting that the light sources evaluated did not compromise welfare of broilers grown to heavy weights. It was concluded that the use of these 3 evaluated light sources, especially Cool-PSF-LED along with a regular-intermittent photoperiod, rather than the long-continuous photoperiod within poultry facilities would decrease energy utilization costs and optimize production efficiency without compromising the welfare of broilers grown to heavy weights.

Technical Abstract: Effects of light sources and photoperiod on growth performance, carcass characteristics and health indices of broilers were investigated in 4 trials. In each trial, 720 1 d old Ross × Ross 708 chicks were equally and randomly distributed into 12 environmentally-controlled rooms (30 males/30 females chicks/room), provided 23L:1D with 20 lx of intensity from d 1 to 7 d, and then subjected to the treatments thereafter. The treatments consisted of 4 light sources from d 1 to d 56 and exposure to 3 photoperiods from d 8 to d 56 at 50% RH. Birds were fed the same diet, while feed and water were provided ad libitum. Birds and feed were weighed on 1, 14, 28, 42, and 56 d of age for growth performance evaluation. All mortality was recorded daily and feed conversion was adjusted for mortality. Immune response was determined on d 28 to d 35, whereas other welfare indices were performed on d 42 and 49, respectively. At 56 d of age, 20 (10 males and 10 females) birds from each room were randomly selected and processed to determine weights and yields. The BW, BW gain, live weight, and carcass weights of birds reared under Cool-PSF-LED were different (P = 0.05) in comparison to birds reared under ICD, but FI, FCR, and mortality were not affected. Moreover, broilers subjected to the short/non-intermittent photoperiod had the lowest BW, BW gain, FI, carcass weight, and pectoralis major and minor weights compared with other 2 photoperiods. There was no effect of treatments on most carcass characteristics. There was no effect of treatments on welfare indices, suggesting that the light sources evaluated did not compromise welfare of heavy broilers. It was concluded that the 3 light sources evaluated in this study may be suitable for replacement of ICD light source along with regular/intermittent photoperiod instead of long/continuous photoperiod in poultry facilities to save energy utilization thereby reducing the total cost of production.