The effects of different intermittent lighting schedules used in different diurnal periods on performances of broilers

In this study, the effects of different lighting schedules on the performance and electricity use of broilers were compared. The study was undertaken in controlled chambers and a total of 1900 broilers were divided into 10 groups consisting of 190 broilers (12.85 chicks/m(2)). Each group was housed in the pens of 3.65X4.05 m (14.78 m(2)). In each pen the lighting density of 3 lux was supplied using a 40 watts of lamp. Broilers subjected to different daylight (9, 11, 15 hours) and an intermittent lighting (LL) regime consisting of 1 hr of light (L): 1hr of darkness (D), 1L:2D, 1L:3D and 23L:1D (control group) were compared from 0 to 42 days. Ali groups reared from 1 to 10 days with same lighting schedule as control group. Birds were provided ad libitum access to feed and water. Starter ration (23% CP and 3000 kcal ME/kg of feed), grower ration (20% CP and 3100kcal ME/kg of feed), and finisher ration (18.5 CP and 3150 kcal ME/kg of feed) were provided from 0 to 14, from IS to 35, from 36-42 days of age respectively. The values of live weight, feed efficiency and mortality were determined on 10., 21. and 42. days of age in all groups. The mean live weights of all groups on 10(th) days of age were 191.03+/-0.74 g and there were no statistically significant differences between the groups. Statistically significant differences (P<0.001) were found in the live weights on days of 21 and 42 among the groups after 10 days of experiment. There were no differences in the mortality of all groups among the three measurements. The feed efficiency on the day 42 for the groups of 1 to 10 were 1.87, 1.83, 1.78, 1.74, 1.89, 1.89, 1.77, 1.87, 1.81 and 1.87 respectively. The use of electricity of all groups, 1 to 10, during the experiment were determined as 26.88, 23.52, 20.16, 30.24, 26.88. 25.2, 31.92, 30.24, 25.2 and 38.64 kw (kilowatt) respectively. On 21(st) day of experiment the group of 6 receiving 1L:3D IL in addition to 11 hours daylight had the highest performance with the live weight of 938.75+/-6.63 g. Regarding the live weight, mortality. feed efficiency and electricity use at the and of the experiment, it was concluded that the best performances were obtained with the intermittent lighting programmes of 1L:3D in winter with daylight of 9 hours: IL:ID in spring end summer with daylights of 11 and IS hours. The continuous lighting program (23L:1D, control group) did not provide better application options compare to other groups

The effects of triticale used in different amounts in laying quail rations on egg production and egg quality

This study was performed to determine the effects of using 40% and 60% triticale with or without enzyme instead of maize on egg production, feed intake, feed efficiency, egg quality and hatchability in laying quail diets. In this study, a total of 160, 12-week-old Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were used; birds with similar live weight and production levels were divided into five groups of 32 quails. Although using triticale at the rate of 40% and 60% in the diet of laying quails did not affect egg production, hatchability, fertility, egg specific gravity, egg shell thickness, the egg white and yolk index or the Hough unit, it did decrease egg weight (P < 0,05) and improve feed efficiency (P < 0,05). In the study, the addition of 40% triticale with enzyme increased the feed efficiency (P < 0,05) and egg production (P < 0,001) over that of the group without enzyme supplementation, but the addition of 60% triticale with enzyme had no effect on egg production. The highest values for egg production, egg weight, feed efficiency, hatchability and fertility were obtained by using 40% triticale with I g/kg avizaym

Effect of alfalfa meal in diets of laying quails on performance, egg quality and some serum parameters

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of increasing levels of alfalfa meal in the diet of laying quails on egg production, feed consumption, feed efficiency, egg quality, egg yolk cholesterol and selected serum parameters. In this study, 192, 10-week old quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were evenly distributed to four groups with four replicates of 12 quails each. The control group was fed a basal diet containing 0% alfalfa meal and the remaining groups received 3, 6 or 9% alfalfa meal for 12 weeks. Live weight, feed consumption, and egg production were recorded and feed efficiency were calculated. Eggs were examined for interior and exterior quality and egg yolk cholesterol content. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected and sera were analysed for serum Ca, inorganic P (P-i), Mg, triglycerides and total cholesterol. Any level of alfalfa meal had no effect on live weight, egg production, feed consumption, feed efficiency, egg weight, and egg yolk index. Six percent and 9% alfalfa meal increased specific gravity of whole egg and eggshell thickness as well as serum P-i levels. Nine percent alfalfa meal reduced serum triglycerides, total cholesterol levels and egg yolk cholesterol content. The results of this experiment indicated that addition of 9% alfalfa meal into the laying quail diet may improve eggshell quality and reduced serum triglycerides and serum and egg yolk cholesterol without any adverse effect on performance