Improvement of Productive and Reproductive Performance of Dandarawi Chicken Through Flash Light Program

Abstract

An experiment with Dandarawi chickens was designed to see the impact of flash light (FL) stimulation on productive and reproductive performance. Three hundred, four weeks old chicks were divided into 5 equal groups (3 replicates of 20 birds each) and housed in floor pens. The first group, the birds were subjected to 12 and 16 hrs common light (CL)/day during the growing and laying periods, respectively and were considered as the control group (C). While, the second group (T1), birds were subjected to 12 hrs light (9 CL: 3 FL) and16 h light (12 CL:4 FL) during growing and laying periods, respectively. The third group (T2), birds were subjected to 12 hrs light (6 CL:6 FL) and16 hrs light (8 CL:8 FL) during growing and laying periods, respectively. The fourth group (T3), birds were subjected to 12 h light (3 CL : 9 FL) and16 h light (4 CL:12 FL) during growing and laying periods, respectively. The fifth group (T4), birds were subjected to 12 and 16 hrs flash light (FL)/day during the growing and laying periods, respectively. Feed and water were available ad libtum and all the other conditions were the same during the experimental period. Results emanating from this study indicated that exposure of birds to flash light affected many of the studied traits and the effects were significant (P≤0.05) on body weight, weight gain, feed conversion, liver, giblets, abdominal fat, total lipids, blood AST, H/L ratio, egg number, egg shell thickness, egg yolk index, age at sexual maturity, fertility, semen volume & concentration, follicle number, testes and ovary percentages. While, there were no significant (P>0.05) differences in most carcass traits, blood components (protein, cholesterol, ALT), shell strength, Haugh units, egg components, leg problems, plumage conditions, bone lengths, semen pH, oviduct weight & length and hatchability percentages. Finally, the economical efficiency of the birds reared on12 hrs light (6 CL: 6 FL) during the growing period and birds provided with either 16 hrs of light (4 CL:12 FL) for table eggs, as well as (8 CL: 8 FL) or (4 CL:12 FL) for fertile eggs during laying periods were superior to that of birds in other groups. Light flashes program as bio-intermittent light might be economical alternative light to continuous or common light in sight and stimulation of internal organs or initiation of hormones release without negatively affecting the performance and welfare of chickens during growing and laying periods.