EFFECT OF DIFFERENT DURATIONS OF THE GRADUAL INCREASE IN LIGHTING INTENSITY ON THE PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE, FERTILITY, AND HATCHABILITY CHARACTERISTICS

Abstract

The study was conducted to reduce the stress generated by the high intensity of lighting used in raising Japanese quail birds by gradually exposing it to the birds for an experimental period of 12 weeks. Two hundred and forty birds (180 females + 60 males) at the age of 48 days were used in the experiment. The birds were distributed into four treatments, with three replicates at a rate of 20 birds per replicate (15 females and 5 males). They were raised in a room designed to carry out this study. The first treatment was considered a control treatment (T1) and included 16 hours of light and 8 hours of darkness, while the second treatment (T2) included 15 hours of light, 8 hours of darkness, and a 1-hour gradient in light intensity every 20 minutes, and the third treatment (T3) included 14 hours. Light, 8 hours of darkness, and 2 hours of gradation in light intensity every 40 minutes. The fourth treatment (T4) was 13 hours of light, 8 hours of darkness, and 3 hours of gradation in light intensity every 60 minutes. The results revealed that there was a significant increase (P≤0.05) in the percentage of egg production based on hen house percentage in the first and second periods of the T2 and T1 treatments, while it was observed that there was a significant difference in the average egg weight for all experimental treatments in all periods. On the other hand, there was a significant increase (P≤0.05) in egg mass for the second period in treatment T1 compared to all experimental treatments. Non-significant differences were observed among the treatments in the remaining periods. Concerning the cumulative egg rate, a significant increase (P≤0.05) was observed in the first two periods in treatment T2 and the second period in treatment T1. There was also a significant increase (P≤0.05) in the feed conversion factor in the first two periods in treatment T1 and the second in treatment T4. The feed conversion factor increased (P≤0.05) in the second period of treatment T4 compared to the other treatments. Non-significant differences were observed for the remaining experimental periods. The differences in fertility and hatchability characteristics for the first and second hatchings and all experimental treatments lacked significance. In conclusion, the gradual application of light intensity has reduced stress and increased the comfort of the bird, and this has contributed to improving the productive qualities of the Japanese quail.