Abstract:
The trial was conducted to quantify the minimum duration night-interruption pulse, in combination with an 8h main photoperiod, needed to support optimum rate of lay in laying hens. There were six lighting regimes: 8L:16D and 16L: 8D served as short-day and long-day controls, respectively. An 8h block of light was common in the four test treatments and light interruptions of 2h. 1h. 1/2 hour 1/4h duration were introduced in the 15h photoperiod such that each pulse simulated 16h skeleton photoperiod. The results showed that the birds in all intermittent lighting regimes gave rate of lay equal to the long-day control and the birds under all these treatments produced significantly (P-0.01) more eggs than the short-day control. Areas below 15m duration were not investigated it is suggested that pulses shorter than 15m may be examined to define the minimum duration of photo-stimulatory pulse required for normal rate of lay in laying hens.
Page(s):
103-106
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Pakistan Journal of Science, Volume: 47, Issue: 3--4, Year: 1995