H. A. Olanrewaju
USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Poultry Research Unit, P.O. Box 5367, Mississippi State, MS 39762-5367, USA
J. L. Purswell
USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Poultry Research Unit, P.O. Box 5367, Mississippi State, MS 39762-5367, USA
S. D. Collier
USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Poultry Research Unit, P.O. Box 5367, Mississippi State, MS 39762-5367, USA
S. L. Branton
USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Poultry Research Unit, P.O. Box 5367, Mississippi State, MS 39762-5367, USA
ABSTRACT
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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How to cite this article
H. A. Olanrewaju, J. L. Purswell, S. D. Collier and S. L. Branton, 2012. Influence of Photoperiod, Light Intensity and Their Interaction on Growth Performance
and Carcass Characteristics of Broilers Grown to Heavy Weights. International Journal of Poultry Science, 11: 739-746.
DOI: 10.3923/ijps.2012.739.746
URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=ijps.2012.739.746
DOI: 10.3923/ijps.2012.739.746
URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=ijps.2012.739.746
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