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The Effect of Intermittent Light on Broiler Performance, Dust Production and Litter Moisture
The Effect of Intermittent Light on Broiler Performance, Dust Production and Litter Moisture GAYNER R. McDANIEL, J. L. KOON and C. A. FLOOD Departments of Poultry Science and Agricultural Engineering, Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36830 (Received for publication August 3, 1976)
INTRODUCTION Subjecting broilers to continuous, low intensity light throughout the growing period is a generally accepted management practice in commercial broiler production. Moore (1957), Shutze et al. (1960), Kruger et al. (1963), and Beane et al. (1962, 1965) reported broilers to be heavier when grown under continuous light. Dorminey (1971) reported better growth rate in broilers grown under varying light treatments versus continuous light when the light periods were at least 1 hour in length and the dark periods did not exceed 2 hours in length. Improved growth rate in broilers exposed to short periods of light followed by longer periods of darkness has been shown also by Hooppaw and Goodman (1972), McDaniel (1972), and Weaver and Bingham (1974). An improved feed-gain ratio, but no improvement in growth rate in birds grown under intermitten light regimes, was reported by Quarks and Kling (1974). The following study was designed to determine the effect of intermittent verus continuous, low-intensity light on growth rate of broilers reared under controlled environmental conditions and the effect of such light regimens on dust production and litter moisture. MATERIALS AND METHODS Four environmentally controlled chambers approximately 2.5 X 3.1 m. were utilized in this experiment. Each chamber held 100 dayold broiler-type chicks started on fresh pine
shavings approximately 15 cm. deep. A brooding temperature, beginning at 35 C. and lowered 2.8 C. weekly until 24 C , was reached and held constant in each chamber throughout the remainder of the experiment. All birds were started on 24 hours of light to 3 days of age at which time two of the chambers were maintained on continuous light beginning at 18.8 lux average intensity and decreased an average of approximately 3 lux per week until 1.6 lux average intensity was reached. The other two chambers were placed on an intermittent light schedule of 15 minutes on and 90 minutes off at a constant 18.8 lux average intensity. Light was measured approximately 15 cm. above the litter. A dust sampling device ("Fixt-Flo" Air Sampler, Mine Safety Appliances) was installed in one chamber of each group on the sixth day of brooding. Dust samples were taken every day for 5 consecutive days each week for a 51-day period. Filters collecting the dust were removed from the machines daily, collected, oven dried for 24 hours, weighed, and grams of dust produced per hour were calculated. Percentage of litter moisture and relative humidity were calculated 4 days each week, beginning when the chicks were 7 days of age through 52 days of age. Litter samples of approximately 200 grams per sample were taken from three locations in each pen and hand blended. Two 50-gram samples were taken from this blend, weighed, placed in a drying oven at 50 C. and dried for 24 h ours. After drying, the samples were again weighed and the differ-
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Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at New York University on February 6, 2015
ABSTRACT A comparison was made of broiler-type chicks subjected to two light regimes, continuous and intermittent (15 minutes light followed by 90 minutes dark) throughout the growing period. Both males and females grown under the intermittent light schedule were significantly heavier (P<0.05) at 8 weeks of age than those grown under continuous light. Litter moisture and dust production were compared in the two light treatments and no significant differences were detected. Poultry Science 56:1381-1383, 1977
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G. R. McDANIEL, J. L. KOON AND C. A. FLOOD TABLE I.—Effect of continuous versus intermittent light on growth rate of broilers Gain
Light regimen
Sex
4 wk. weight grams
Continuous
d 9
815.6 b 700.0 C
1232.9 b 901.8d
2047.5 b 1601.8 d
Intermittent (15min. L/90 min. D X 24)
d 9
863.4 a 726.4 C
1328.7 a 983.2C
2192.1* 1709.6 C
4 wks. to 8 wks. grams
8wk. weight grams
ences calculated between the dry and wet weights determined the percentage litter moisture per pen. Relative humidity was obtained with a sling psychrometer. Both treatments of birds were weighed individually at 4 and 8 weeks of age. At 8 weeks, birds were killed and dressed weight determined. Four- and 8-week weights were analyzed by analysis of variance and the LSD was used to determine differences between treatments.
weights of both males and females grown under intermittent light were significantly heavier than those under continuous light (P<0.05). The difference in the weight of the females between the two treatments at 8 weeks (P<0.05) was due primarily to the difference in rate of gain between 4 and 8 weeks of age. It also was observed that the rate of gain between 4 and 8 weeks of age for both males and females was greater (P<0.05) for the birds on the intermittent-light treatment than those on continuous light. No differences were noted in feed conversion or mortality between the two light treatments. Data on dust production, percentage relative humidity, and percentage litter moisture are presented in Table 2. The overall average of dust production was slightly less in the continuous-light treatment although the difference was not significant (P>0.10). Percentage litter moisture and percentage relative humidity followed
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Average weights and weight gains at 4 and 8 weeks are presented in Table 1. At 4 weeks of age, males grown under intermittent light were heavier (P<0.05) than males grown under continuous light. The females grown under intermittent light were slightly heavier at 4 weeks than those grown under continuous light, but the difference was not significant. At 8 weeks,
TABLE 2.—Average weekly dust production (gm./hr.), % relative humidity, and % litter moisture in two light variables Light treatment 15 min. L/90 min. DX 24
Continuous
Age of chicks (wks.)
Dust collected av. grams/hr.
Relative humidity
Litter moisture
%
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Av.
0.108 0.302 0.862 1.231 1.276 1.249 0.832 0.746
41.0 42.5 52.0 63.0 63.0 67.0 68.5 56.0
Relative humidity
Litter moisture
%
Dust collected av. grams/hr.
%
%
4.40 10.25 16.90 18.90 18.10 28.00 38.50 20.40
0.058 0.296 0.680 0.940 1.234 1.328 0.607 0.665
43.0 43.0 51.0 59.0 67.0 69.0 68.5 57.0
5.10 10.40 17.40 21.10 24.10 26.50 39.20 21.50
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at New York University on February 6, 2015
Means containing the same superscript are not significantly different (P>0.05).
BROILER LIGHTING
REFERENCES Beane, W. L., P. B. Siegel and H. S. Siegel, 1962.
The effect of light on body weight and feed conversion of broilers. Poultry Sci. 41:1350-1351. Beane, W. L., P. B. Siegel and H. S. Siegel, 1965. Light environment as a factor in growth and feed efficiency of meat-type chickens. Poultry Sci. 44:10091012. Dorminey, R. W., 1971. Broiler performance as affected by varying light periods and light intensities. Poultry Sci. 50:1572. -Hooppaw, P. D., and B. L. Goodman, 1972. The influence of intermittent light on growth, feed efficiency and other traits in broilers. Poultry Sci. 51:1820-1821. Kruger, W. F., C. B. Ryan, W. O. Cawley and J. H. Quisenberry, 1963. Artificial light and number of daily feedings on performance of broilers. Proc. Assoc. S. Agr. Workers, 60:316. McDaniel, G. R., 1972. The effects of continuous light versus intermittent light on the growth rate of broilers. Poultry Sci. 51:1834-1835. Moore, C. H., 1957. The effect of light on growth of broiler chickens. Poultry Sci. 36:1142. Ota, H., 1967. The physical control of environment for growing and laying birds. In: Environmental Control in Poultry Production. Edited by T. C. Carter. Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh, England, pp. 3-14. Quarks, C. L., and H. F. Kling, 1974. The effect of three lighting regimes on broiler performance. Poultry Sci. 53:1435-1438. Shutze, J. V., L. S. Jensen, J. S. Carver and W. E. Matson, 1960. Influence of various lighting regimes on the performance of growing chickens. Washington Agr. Exp. Sta. Tech. Bull. 36. Weaver, W. D., Jr., and B. H. Bingham, 1974. An automatic air inlet used in conjunction with an intermittent light regime for broilers. Poultry Sci. 53: 1990-1991.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at New York University on February 6, 2015
much the same pattern in both treatments. Litter moisture measured before the chicks were placed was 5.5 percent. As shown in Table 2, there was a slight decrease in percentage litter moisture from the time the chicks were placed and at 7 days of age. This decrease was probably because of the high brooding heat the first 7 days. As birds became older, there was an increase in the percentage relative humidity up to 3 5 days and 40 days for continuous- and intermittent-light treatments, respectively, at which time there appeared to be a peak in relative humidity. There was no corresponding peak in litter moisture but an increase in moisture in each succeeding sample throughout the experiment was observed. The results obtained in this experiment show that the accepted practice of using continuous low-intensity lighting may not be the best lighting regimen for growing birds. The better growth rate obtained from birds maintained under intermittent lighting may be due to less energy used by the birds. Ota (1967) reported that there was about 25 percent less heat production from birds in the dark periods as compared with the light periods. In addition, the use of intermittent lighting offers a saving in the amount of electrical energy used for rearing broilers.
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INTRODUCTION Subjecting broilers to continuous, low intensity light throughout the growing period is a generally accepted management practice in commercial broiler production. Moore (1957), Shutze et al. (1960), Kruger et al. (1963), and Beane et al. (1962, 1965) reported broilers to be heavier when grown under continuous light. Dorminey (1971) reported better growth rate in broilers grown under varying light treatments versus continuous light when the light periods were at least 1 hour in length and the dark periods did not exceed 2 hours in length. Improved growth rate in broilers exposed to short periods of light followed by longer periods of darkness has been shown also by Hooppaw and Goodman (1972), McDaniel (1972), and Weaver and Bingham (1974). An improved feed-gain ratio, but no improvement in growth rate in birds grown under intermitten light regimes, was reported by Quarks and Kling (1974). The following study was designed to determine the effect of intermittent verus continuous, low-intensity light on growth rate of broilers reared under controlled environmental conditions and the effect of such light regimens on dust production and litter moisture. MATERIALS AND METHODS Four environmentally controlled chambers approximately 2.5 X 3.1 m. were utilized in this experiment. Each chamber held 100 dayold broiler-type chicks started on fresh pine
shavings approximately 15 cm. deep. A brooding temperature, beginning at 35 C. and lowered 2.8 C. weekly until 24 C , was reached and held constant in each chamber throughout the remainder of the experiment. All birds were started on 24 hours of light to 3 days of age at which time two of the chambers were maintained on continuous light beginning at 18.8 lux average intensity and decreased an average of approximately 3 lux per week until 1.6 lux average intensity was reached. The other two chambers were placed on an intermittent light schedule of 15 minutes on and 90 minutes off at a constant 18.8 lux average intensity. Light was measured approximately 15 cm. above the litter. A dust sampling device ("Fixt-Flo" Air Sampler, Mine Safety Appliances) was installed in one chamber of each group on the sixth day of brooding. Dust samples were taken every day for 5 consecutive days each week for a 51-day period. Filters collecting the dust were removed from the machines daily, collected, oven dried for 24 hours, weighed, and grams of dust produced per hour were calculated. Percentage of litter moisture and relative humidity were calculated 4 days each week, beginning when the chicks were 7 days of age through 52 days of age. Litter samples of approximately 200 grams per sample were taken from three locations in each pen and hand blended. Two 50-gram samples were taken from this blend, weighed, placed in a drying oven at 50 C. and dried for 24 h ours. After drying, the samples were again weighed and the differ-
1381
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at New York University on February 6, 2015
ABSTRACT A comparison was made of broiler-type chicks subjected to two light regimes, continuous and intermittent (15 minutes light followed by 90 minutes dark) throughout the growing period. Both males and females grown under the intermittent light schedule were significantly heavier (P<0.05) at 8 weeks of age than those grown under continuous light. Litter moisture and dust production were compared in the two light treatments and no significant differences were detected. Poultry Science 56:1381-1383, 1977
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G. R. McDANIEL, J. L. KOON AND C. A. FLOOD TABLE I.—Effect of continuous versus intermittent light on growth rate of broilers Gain
Light regimen
Sex
4 wk. weight grams
Continuous
d 9
815.6 b 700.0 C
1232.9 b 901.8d
2047.5 b 1601.8 d
Intermittent (15min. L/90 min. D X 24)
d 9
863.4 a 726.4 C
1328.7 a 983.2C
2192.1* 1709.6 C
4 wks. to 8 wks. grams
8wk. weight grams
ences calculated between the dry and wet weights determined the percentage litter moisture per pen. Relative humidity was obtained with a sling psychrometer. Both treatments of birds were weighed individually at 4 and 8 weeks of age. At 8 weeks, birds were killed and dressed weight determined. Four- and 8-week weights were analyzed by analysis of variance and the LSD was used to determine differences between treatments.
weights of both males and females grown under intermittent light were significantly heavier than those under continuous light (P<0.05). The difference in the weight of the females between the two treatments at 8 weeks (P<0.05) was due primarily to the difference in rate of gain between 4 and 8 weeks of age. It also was observed that the rate of gain between 4 and 8 weeks of age for both males and females was greater (P<0.05) for the birds on the intermittent-light treatment than those on continuous light. No differences were noted in feed conversion or mortality between the two light treatments. Data on dust production, percentage relative humidity, and percentage litter moisture are presented in Table 2. The overall average of dust production was slightly less in the continuous-light treatment although the difference was not significant (P>0.10). Percentage litter moisture and percentage relative humidity followed
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Average weights and weight gains at 4 and 8 weeks are presented in Table 1. At 4 weeks of age, males grown under intermittent light were heavier (P<0.05) than males grown under continuous light. The females grown under intermittent light were slightly heavier at 4 weeks than those grown under continuous light, but the difference was not significant. At 8 weeks,
TABLE 2.—Average weekly dust production (gm./hr.), % relative humidity, and % litter moisture in two light variables Light treatment 15 min. L/90 min. DX 24
Continuous
Age of chicks (wks.)
Dust collected av. grams/hr.
Relative humidity
Litter moisture
%
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Av.
0.108 0.302 0.862 1.231 1.276 1.249 0.832 0.746
41.0 42.5 52.0 63.0 63.0 67.0 68.5 56.0
Relative humidity
Litter moisture
%
Dust collected av. grams/hr.
%
%
4.40 10.25 16.90 18.90 18.10 28.00 38.50 20.40
0.058 0.296 0.680 0.940 1.234 1.328 0.607 0.665
43.0 43.0 51.0 59.0 67.0 69.0 68.5 57.0
5.10 10.40 17.40 21.10 24.10 26.50 39.20 21.50
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at New York University on February 6, 2015
Means containing the same superscript are not significantly different (P>0.05).
BROILER LIGHTING
REFERENCES Beane, W. L., P. B. Siegel and H. S. Siegel, 1962.
The effect of light on body weight and feed conversion of broilers. Poultry Sci. 41:1350-1351. Beane, W. L., P. B. Siegel and H. S. Siegel, 1965. Light environment as a factor in growth and feed efficiency of meat-type chickens. Poultry Sci. 44:10091012. Dorminey, R. W., 1971. Broiler performance as affected by varying light periods and light intensities. Poultry Sci. 50:1572. -Hooppaw, P. D., and B. L. Goodman, 1972. The influence of intermittent light on growth, feed efficiency and other traits in broilers. Poultry Sci. 51:1820-1821. Kruger, W. F., C. B. Ryan, W. O. Cawley and J. H. Quisenberry, 1963. Artificial light and number of daily feedings on performance of broilers. Proc. Assoc. S. Agr. Workers, 60:316. McDaniel, G. R., 1972. The effects of continuous light versus intermittent light on the growth rate of broilers. Poultry Sci. 51:1834-1835. Moore, C. H., 1957. The effect of light on growth of broiler chickens. Poultry Sci. 36:1142. Ota, H., 1967. The physical control of environment for growing and laying birds. In: Environmental Control in Poultry Production. Edited by T. C. Carter. Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh, England, pp. 3-14. Quarks, C. L., and H. F. Kling, 1974. The effect of three lighting regimes on broiler performance. Poultry Sci. 53:1435-1438. Shutze, J. V., L. S. Jensen, J. S. Carver and W. E. Matson, 1960. Influence of various lighting regimes on the performance of growing chickens. Washington Agr. Exp. Sta. Tech. Bull. 36. Weaver, W. D., Jr., and B. H. Bingham, 1974. An automatic air inlet used in conjunction with an intermittent light regime for broilers. Poultry Sci. 53: 1990-1991.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at New York University on February 6, 2015
much the same pattern in both treatments. Litter moisture measured before the chicks were placed was 5.5 percent. As shown in Table 2, there was a slight decrease in percentage litter moisture from the time the chicks were placed and at 7 days of age. This decrease was probably because of the high brooding heat the first 7 days. As birds became older, there was an increase in the percentage relative humidity up to 3 5 days and 40 days for continuous- and intermittent-light treatments, respectively, at which time there appeared to be a peak in relative humidity. There was no corresponding peak in litter moisture but an increase in moisture in each succeeding sample throughout the experiment was observed. The results obtained in this experiment show that the accepted practice of using continuous low-intensity lighting may not be the best lighting regimen for growing birds. The better growth rate obtained from birds maintained under intermittent lighting may be due to less energy used by the birds. Ota (1967) reported that there was about 25 percent less heat production from birds in the dark periods as compared with the light periods. In addition, the use of intermittent lighting offers a saving in the amount of electrical energy used for rearing broilers.
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