-The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of photoperiod length and light intensity on leg and eye health, tonic immobility, some blood parameters, carcass, and meat quality characteristics in broilers. A total of 272 one-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to four treatment groups based on the photoperiod length (23L:1D or increasing duration of light) and light intensity (20 lux vs. dim light) with four replicates. In this study, photoperiod lenght had no effect on incidence of foot pad and hock burn. On the other hand, the effect of photoperiod lenght had significant influence on the gait score. The incidences of gait score (3 + 4 + 5) in bright and dim light groups was found as 21.4 and 41.0% in broilers, respectively. In addition, the effect of light intensity had statistical significance on gait score. The tonic immobility duration in 20 lux and dim light groups were 271.53 and 226.78 s, respectively, and tonic immobility duration was unaffected by light intensity. All the blood parameters, except for triglyceride, were not affected by light intensity. The dim light had a negative effect on broiler welfare as demonstrated by increased eye weight and dimensions. Cold carcass yield and whole breast and wing yields were lower in the dim light group than in 20 lux light intensity. The broilers kept with dim light had lower breast meat ultimate pH (6.19) and L* values (54.30) than those reared with 20 lux. These findings have a lot of implications on the use of increasing photoperiod and bright light to improve leg an eye health benefits for the broiler welfare in broilers.

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Citation of This ArticleDereli Fidan E, Nazligül A,Türkyilmaz MK, Karaarslan S, Kaya M: Effects of photoperiod length and light intensity on performance, carcass characteristics and heterophil to lymphocyte ratio in broilers. Kafkas Univ Vet Fak Derg, 23, 39-45, 2017. DOI: 10.9775/kvfd.2016 AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate the effects of photoperiod length and light intensity on performance, carcass characteristics and heterophil to lymphocyte ratio in broilers. A total of 272 1 day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to four treatment groups based on the photoperiod length (23L:1D or increasing duration of light) and light intensity (20 lux vs. a dim, reducing intensity) with four replicates. At 42 d of age, effects of photoperiod length and light intensity on performance traits were not significant. The heterophil/ lymphocyte ratio in 20 lux and dim, reducing light intensity groups were 0.30 and 0.15 (P<0.001), respectively. On the other hand, the effect of light intensity has no influence on heterophil/lymphocyte ratio. Cold and hot carcass weights and whole breast meat and wing weights were found lower in the dim, reducing light intensity group than 20 lux light intensity group. The effects of photoperiod length and light intensity on carcass characteristics were not significant, statistically. In conclusion, it can be said that body weight, feed consumption, feed convertion ratio, whole breast meat and wing weights were increased by providing the increasing photoperiod used with a 20 lux light intensity in broiler breeding. Keywords: Broiler, Carcass, Heterophil/lymphocyte ratio, Light intensity, Performance, Photoperiod Etlik piliçlerde Fotoperiyot Uzunluğu ve Işık Şiddetinin Performans, Karkas Özellikleri ve Heterofil/Lenfosit Oranı Üzerine Etkileri ÖzetBu çalışmanın amacı fotoperiyot uzunluğu ve ışık şiddetinin etlik piliçlerde performans, karkas özellikleri ve heterofil/lenfosit oranı üzerine etkilerinin araştırılmasıdır. Bir günlük yaşta toplam 272 adet (Ross 308) erkek civcivler fotoperiyot uzunluğu (23A:1K veya giderek artan aydınlık süre) ve ışık şiddeti (20 lüks veya giderek azalan ışık şiddeti) faktörlerine göre dört gruba, dört tekrarlı olacak şekilde rastgele olarak dağıtılmıştır. Kırkiki günlük yaşta, performans özellikleri üzerine, fotoperiyot uzunluğu ve ışık şiddetinin etkileri önemsiz bulunmuştur. Yirmi lüks ve giderek azalan ışık şiddeti gruplarında, heterofil/lenfosit oranı sırasıyla 0.30 ve 0.15 olarak bulunmuş olup, gruplar arası farklar istatistik bakımdan önemli (P<0.001) çıkmıştır. Diğer taraftan, ışık şiddetinin heterofil/lenfosit oranı üzerine önemli bir etkisinin olmadığı saptanmıştır. Sıcak ve soğuk karkas ağırlık ortalaması, bütün göğüs eti ve kanat ağırlık ortalaması değerleri giderek azalan ışık şiddeti grubunda, 20 lüks ışık şiddeti grubuna göre daha düşük olarak belirlenmiştir. Tüm karkas özellikleri üzerine fotoperiyot uzunluğu ve ışık şiddetinin etkisi istatistiksel olarak önemsiz çıkmıştır. Sonuç olarak, etlik piliç yetiştiriciliğind...

ÖzetBu çalışmanın amacı, akut gürültünün etlik piliçlerde korku ve bazı stres göstergeleri üzerine etkilerinin araştırılmasıdır. Araştırmada günlük yaştaki 192 etlik piliç (Ross 308) civciv, her grupta 24'er hayvan (12 erkek, 12 dişi) olacak şekilde 4 ayrı gruba iki tekrarlı şekilde rasgele dağıtılmıştır. 42 günlük normal yetiştirme dönemi sonunda hayvanlar ses düzeyi 80, 100, 120 ve 55 (Kontrol) dB olacak şekilde ayarlanmış ses düzenekleriyle 15 dk. süreyle akut gürültüye maruz bırakılmıştır. Analiz sonucunda 100 ve 120 dB gürültü düzeylerinde kortikosteron düzeyinin önemli oranda yükseldiği saptanmıştır (P<0.001). Gürültünün tüm deneme gruplarında kolesterol düzeyini artırmasına karşın, glukoz düzeyini yalnızca 120 dB gürültü düzeyinde artırdığı saptanmıştır. Diğer taraftan, gürültü düzeyinin artmasına bağlı olarak total protein düzeyinin düştüğü ortaya konulmuştur. Tonik Hareketsizlik Testi (TI), TI süreleri arasında önemli bir farklılık olmasa da, akut gürültünün hayvanlarda korku oluşumu üzerine önemli bir etkisinin olduğunu göstermiştir. Bu anlamda TI için gerekli ortalama deneme sayısı ise 100 ve 120 dB gürültü gruplarında (1.4 ve 1.3), kontrol grubuna (1.8) göre daha düşük olarak kaydedilmiştir (P<0.05). Sonuç olarak 100 dB ve üzeri akut gürültünün etlik piliçlerde bazı stres parametrelerini olumsuz etkilediği ve korkuya yol açtığı, bu nedenle hayvanların daha düşük gürültü düzeylerinde bulundurulmaları gerektiği anlaşılmıştır. Anahtar sözcükler: Etlik piliç, Akut gürültü, Stres, Tonik Hareketsizlik Testi The Effects of Acute Noise on Fear and Some Stress Parameters in Broilers SummaryThe aim of this study was to investigate the effects of acute noise on some stress parameters and fear reactions in broilers. Day old 192 broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly allocated to 4 different treatment groups containing 24 birds (12 male, 12 female) for two replication. After 42 days regular rearing period, birds were exposed to 55 (control), 80, 100 and 120 dB acute noise for 15 min. with a device hanged to their rooms. Results showed that corticosterone levels at 100 dB and 120 dB noise levels increased significantly (P<0.001). It was revealed that acute noise had increased blood cholesterole levels in all treatment groups, but increased glucose levels only in 120 dB noise group. Conversely total protein level decreased according to increase in noise level. Tonic Immobility Test (TI) in which there were no significant differences between TI durations for all treatment groups, revealed that acute noise has negative effect on fear in broilers. On this context, TI trials were recorded as high in control group (1.8) than 100 and 120 dB groups (1.4 ve 1.3). It was concluded that acute noise over 100 dB have negative effects on some stress parameters and fear in broilers, for that reason broilers should housed at lower noise levels.

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This study was carried out to investigate the effects of perch cooling and two different perch heights on physical (the weight, length, diameter, strength index, and weight-length index) and strength (strength, stiffness, elastic modulus, ultimate force) properties of tibiotarsus of broilers reared in summer conditions. A total of 450 one-d-old Ross-308 broiler chicks were used as the material. Chicks were allocated into 10 pens which has 15 chicks in each as to a 3x2x2 experimental design with three replication. Perch temperature was set to 10 o C for cooled perches while perches were attached 7.5 and 15 cm off the floor. The position of both cooled and non-cooled perches were set to make animals pass over the perch for feeding and drinking. Results revealed that tibia weights in both 7.5 (19.39 g) and 15 cm (19.01 g) perch height groups were higher than the no-perch (17.24 g) group (P<0.001). Bones from the cooled perch group were found heavier (19.58 g-109.48 mm) and longer than the no-cooled (18.29 g-105.55 mm) group (P<0.001). As to ultimate force (Fmax), the greatest force (264.2 N) was required for bones in a group with 7.5 cm perch height (P<0.05). There were also similar significant differences in perch cooling and sex parameters while both perch application and perch cooling do not affect bone strength and elastic modulus.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of regular visual contact by the stockperson wearing clothes of different colour on fear and stress reactions, some meat quality traits and performance parameters in broiler chickens. A total of 192 one day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to four different colour clothing groups (red, blue, green and gray), and two visual human contact groups (60 and 300 s durations) were designed. From day 15, the chickens were exposed to regular visual contacts with the stockperson, who wore different colour clothings every day. Tonic immobility (TI) test revealed that visual contact duration increase (300 s) has a positive effect on fear in broilers. The heterophil lymphocyte (H/L) ratio was the highest (0.89) in the green clothing group, but the lowest (0.45) in red clothing group (P<0.001). From meat quality traits in breast muscle (P<0.01) it was determined that clothing colour has statistically significant effects on lightness value. Final body weights were higher in blue coloured clothing group (2593.82 g) than the green one (2348.42). The results demonstrate that regular visual human contact has no effect on parameters such as H/L ratio, some blood parameters, meat quality, TI duration and performance traits, while colour of clothes has a significant effect on H/L ratio, lightness colour value, and body weight in broiler chickens.

In this trial, the effects of early qualitative feed restriction and barrier perch access on some meat quality traits, growth performance, and diet cost analysis of broiler chickens were investigated. A total of 504 1-d old male chicks (Ross 308) were randomly allocated to four treatments (qualitative feed restriction-QFR; absence-/presence+ and barrier perch-BP; absence-/presence+) with three replicate pens in a completely randomised design involving a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Broiler chickens in the treatment of QFR (-) were fed with a corn-soybean meal diet containing protein and energy at the level specified in the commercial hybrid catalogue during d 0-42. The treatment of QFR (+) was fed with a corn-soybean meal diet containing lower energy (10%) and protein (20%) for the first d 21, and then between d 22-42, they were fed with a diet specified in the commercial hybrid catalogue. In the treatment of BP (+), the barrier perch was placed between the feeder and the drinker. Meat quality traits (pH, lightness-L*, redness-a*, yellowness-b*, chroma, hue angle, and cooking loss-CL), growth performance (body weight-BW, body weight gain-BWG, feed intake-FI, and feed conversion ratio-FCR), and diet cost analysis (total diet cost and diet cost per unit weight gain) were recorded. Except for the a* value and hue angle measured at 24-h post-slaughter, the effect of QFR treatments on meat quality traits was insignificant in all measurements. During d 0-42, in the treatments of QFR (+) of BW, BWG, and FI were lower (respectively P<0.001, P<0.001, and P=0.005), and FCR was worse (P=0.014). The QFR treatments did not differ significantly in dietary cost per unit weight gained during d 0-42. As a result, it can be said that early qualitative feed restriction did not significantly affect meat quality traits. The treatment of QFR (+) resulted in reduced growth performance. However, diet cost per unit weight gain showed similar values in both the QFR treatments (QFR+ €0.75, QFR- €0.76, P=0.511).