Application of Intermittent Feeding and Flash Lighting Regimens in Broiler Chickens Management

Abstract

wo experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of intermittent feeding and flash lighting regimens on growth performance, carcass traits, blood parameters and economic efficiency of broiler chickens. In experiment 1, one hundred and twenty, one-day old Cobb chicks were equally distributed into four groups (each consisted of 3 replicates of 10 birds each). Chicks in the first group (G1) were fed ad libitum (Control, C), while the other three groups were fed according to intermittent feeding regimes consisted of different number of cycles per day, each cycle consisted of feeding period (F) followed by fasting period (S). Chicks of the second group (G2) were fed in 2 cycles per day, each of 6 hrs feeding followed by 6 hrs fasting (6F: 6S); chicks of the third group (G3) were fed in three cycles per day, each of 4 hrs feeding followed by 4 hrs fasting (4F: 4S) and chicks of the fourth group (G4) were fed in six cycles per day, each of 2 hrs feeding followed by 2 hrs fasting (2F: 2S). In experiment 2, one hundred and twenty, oneday old Cobb chicks were equally distributed into four groups (each consisted of 3 replicates of 10 birds each). Chicks in the first group (G1) were exposed to continuous light/day (Control, C), while the other three groups were exposed to intermittent flash lighting regimens as follows: the second group (G2) was exposed to 2hrs contiuous light+1hr dark for 8 cycles per day (2CL: 1D); the third group (G3) was exposed to 2hrs continuous light+1hr flash light for 8 cycles per day (2CL: 1FL) and the fourth group (G4) exposed to 1hrs continuous light + 2hrs flash light for 8 cycles per day (1CL: 2FL). The results indicated that intermittent feeding and flash lighting significantly (P≤0.05) affected body weight, body weight gain, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, and consequently economic efficiency. However, it had no significant effect (P≥0.05) on most carcass traits, meat quality, blood parameters, lymphoid organs and conformation lengths except liver and abdominal fat percentages, tenderness and juiciness of meat, plasma lipids value, percentages of spleen and thymus weight. According to the results of present study and economic evaluation, it could be concluded that, it is possible to use the intermittent feeding regimen of 2F:2S for six cycles/day and flash lighting regimen of 2CL: 1FL for 8 cycled/day in broiler management to improve growth and economic efficiency as well as to reduce abdominal fat without any adverse effect till marketing age with expected considerable saving in costs of feed and (electricity).

Effects of Light Regimens and Vitamin D3 Levels and Their Interactions on Broilers Growth Performance and Carcass Traits

“…These findings partially agree with those reported by Farghly and Makled (2015) who they found that flash lighting significantly affected on liver percentages. And, Abreu et al, (2011) who showed that lighting programs did not affect the heart, liver, gizzard, and abdominal fat percentages.…”

“…Our study in same line with Farghly et al, (2019a) who reported that lighting programs did not significantly change the carcass traits. Also, Farghly and Makled (2015) they found non-significant differences in the percentages of the dressed carcass, drumstick, femur, breast, heart, and gizzard among all groups under light flashes, although the differences were significant (P < 0.05) in the drumstick, liver and abdominal fat percentages. And, this result was consistent with the findings of Downs et al, (2006), who reported no significant effect in the cold carcass yield of birds exposed to different lighting program .…”

“…Our results in agreement with Farghly et al, (2019a) reported that broilers exposed to flashing light had the highest body weight. Using flashing light may have aided early growth by providing more opportunity for the birds to reduce heat production and stimulate the secretory patterns of several hormones (Farghly and Makled, 2015;Farghly et al, 2016). Nelson et al, (2020) postulated that providing intermittent light with a short dawn/dusk period yielded heavier birds than did increasing day length with a long dawn/dusk period, probably because of differences in feeding behavior and physical activity.…”

“…In studies of Schwean-Lardner et al, (2016), Yang et al, (2015) and Aviagen (2014), improved feed conversion efficiency was observed in birds subjected to split darkness when compared to the continuous light group. Intermittent feeding and lighting have been used to improve feed efficiency (Farghly and Hassanien, 2012;Farghly and Makled, 2015). lighting programs with moderate photoperiod include the best results of feed conversion due to energy conservation during rest periods (dark) (Liboni et al, 2013).…”

Effects of Light Regimens and Vitamin D3 Levels and Their Interactions on Growth Parameters and Some Blood Plasma Constituents of Broiler Chickens

“…The obtained results are in agreement with Farghly et al, (2019a) who reported that broilers exposed to flashing light had the highest body weight. Using flashing light may have aided early growth by providing more opportunity for the birds to reduce heat production and stimulate the secretory patterns of several hormones (Farghly and Makled, 2015;Farghly et al, 2016). Providing intermittent light for 2L:2D has been shown to improve growth performance compared with 8L:16D (Olanrewaju et al, 2012;Olanrewaju et al, 2019b).…”