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The effect of ahemeral lighf.dark cycles on grams of feed required per dozen eggs
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A laying trial was conducted to determine the effect of an ahemeral lighting program on early photostimulated brown-egg pullets (DeKalb Sex-Sal). All birds received 24 h of light/day (24L:0D) to 3 days of age followed by 8 h of light (8L:16D) to 8 wk of age. From 8 to 16 wk the birds received 10 h of light daily. At 16 wk, the control group (CON) r...
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The objective of this study was to determine the effect of age at photostimulation on sexual maturity and performance of layer breeders. A total of 192 fourteen-wk-old White Leghorn (WL) breeder hens were randomly allocated to 4 treatments of 48 birds each, with 2 replicates per treatment. The birds were photostimulated at 16 (PS16), 18 (PS18), 20...
This work studied the effect of age at photostimulation on reproductive performance of Beijing-You Chicken (BYC) breeders. A total of 384 fourteen-week-old BYC breeder hens were randomly allocated to 4 treatments of 96 birds each, with 2 replicates per treatment. The treatments represent photostimulation at 16, 18, 20, and 22 wk of age, respectivel...
Large White turkey breeder hens were fed ad libitum (CC), feed-restricted from 16 to 24 wk (CR), feed-restricted from 3 to 16 wk (RC), or feed-restricted from 3 to 24 wk (RR). Feed restriction was implemented so that RC and RR hens achieved a 45% reduction in BW compared to CC hens at 16 wk. From 16 to 24 wk, feed was allotted to RR and CR hens to...
A study was conducted to examine how 2 feeder space allocations during the rearing period followed by 2 feeder space allocations after photostimulation and 2 female feeding to peak programs (fast or slow) affected female broiler breeder reproductive performance and mortality. Sixteen pens of 76 breeder females each were equipped with either 4 tube...
The biological basis of sustained fertility in broiler and turkey hens is their capacity to store sperm in the oviductal sperm storage tubules (SST) located in the uterovaginal junction. The objectives of this study were to determine if the numbers of SST varied between 4 strains of broiler breeders and determine the number of SST in the turkey bef...
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... The studies of Charles et al. (1992) showed that type of light, its intensity and duration markedly affect the birds health; while Siopes and Proudman (1992) concluded that there was no improvement to the use of high intensity light during short day light restriction of the prepay duration on subsequence reproductive efficiency. Hawes et al. (1991) percentage of eggs per hen per day (%HDP) was significantly decreased by the AHM treatment of the periods 23 to 26 weeks and 31 to 34 weeks, this reduction caused a significant cumulative effect on %HDP (68.9 for CON 66.2 for AHM). ...
The study was designed to find the effect of light duration on overall production of Japanese quails such as weight gain, feed consumption and egg production. Total one hundred and twenty Japanese quails were grouped into three and each group was intended duration of 12 hours, group experiment was designed for two months (60 days the significant difference. The useful and valuable output of this study was gain in a very low and contracted experimental design that is imperative for the poultry farmers in respect of light significance. The results revealed that the final body weight of birds was higher in group (143.17±4.44gram) followed by group Similarly, feed intake shown increased in group (1092±218.68gram) and group recorded high (68.7±0.54) in group duration was increased. Overall net profit was also seen markedly h light duration was provided during 1 (gram) in all experimental groups showed negligible variation. It is concluded that the prolong energy source (light) incre quail. Copyright©2017, Shakeel Ahmed Wagan et al. This unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
... , in a trial comparing White Leghorns on hemeral and ahemeral (27 h) photoschedules, reported that the feed needed for reproduction (feed per egg) was not significantly different between groups. These results were confirmed by Hawes et al. (1991) ...
... Siopes and Neely (1997) reported that ahemeral lighting can be used for the first 5 wk or more after photostimulation to increase egg size in turkey hens; however, after 13 wk after photostimulation, this effect was no longer present. Similarly, Hawes et al. (1991) reported that brown egg-laying hens on a 26-h photoschedule had increased egg weights for the last 3 wk of the ahemeral schedule, but cumulatively there was no egg weight increase. However, egg production, as studied in White Leghorn hens on a 28-h ahemeral photoschedule, was significantly increased for the first 8 wk of production (Fitzsimmons and Newcombe, 1991). ...
... Zimmermann and Nam (1989), in a trial comparing White Leghorns on hemeral and ahemeral (27 h) photoschedules, reported that the feed needed for reproduction (feed per egg) was not significantly different between groups. These results were confirmed by Hawes et al. (1991). The interval between consecutive feeding alters body enzymatic systems affecting carbohydrate metabolism, fat storage, and protein formation (Fabry and Tepperman, 1970 ). ...
Shaver Starbro broiler breeder pullets were used to study the effect of day length (24 and 28 h) on egg production parameters and egg traits from 22 to 30 wk of age, and ovarian and morphological characteristics at 30 wk of age. Floor-housed pullets were raised in a light-tight facility from 1 d of age until housing in individually illuminated cages at time of photostimulation (22 wk). Cages were equipped with hardware to monitor egg laying time. The photoschedule during rearing was 24 h light: 0 h dark for the first 3 d followed by 8 h light: 16 h dark from 3 d to photostimulation. Body weight was monitored throughout the trial to maintain weights at targets set by Shaver Poultry Breeding Farms, Ltd. The experimental design was a 2 x 2 factorial with two day lengths [hemeral (24 h) and ahemeral (28 h)] and two BW groups [high (HBW) and low BW (LBW)], with the LBW weighing 327 g less than the HBW birds at 22 wk of age. The hemeral photoschedule was 14 h light: 10 h dark, and the ahemeral photoschedule was 14 h light: 14 h dark. Differences in BW remained throughout the trial. Egg numbers were not increased by the 28-h day (24 h = 25.4 eggs; 28 h = 23.1 eggs). The 24-h hens laid more double-yolked eggs (0.9% of total egg production) than did the 28-h birds (0.3%). Egg formation time was consistently longer for the 28-h hens (26.8 h at 25 wk of age and 25.8 h at 29 wk of age) compared with the 24-h hens (25.4 h at 25 wk of age and 24.8 h at 29 wk of age). Mean egg weight was higher for the 28-h birds (55.1 g) compared with the 24-h birds (53.0 g). Egg specific gravity was higher in eggs from the 28-h hens than eggs from the 24-h hens. Some of the increase in egg weight between the 28- and 24-h birds was due to shell weight. Absolute and proportional weights of the egg shell were 5.5 g and 10.0% of the total egg weight for the 28-h birds and 4.9 g and 9.3% for the 24-h birds, respectively. The 28-h hens had higher proportional breast muscle weight, smaller livers and oviducts, and lower ovary weight compared with the 24-h birds. The data indicated that, although egg size can be increased with the use of long ahemeral days early in lay, this result may be at the expense of egg numbers. Early in lay, follicular maturation rates are fast, and egg production may be limited to one ovulation per 28 h.
... This transient effect of AH lighting on egg weight is consistent with, but shorter than, that reported by Siopes and Neely (1997b) in which continuous AH lighting increased egg weight to 13 wk of photostimulation. This was not as unexpected for the temporary AH treatment groups as it was for the AH-C treatment because egg weight in chickens is readily reversed after temporary AH lighting and there are only sparse indications for such an effect with continuous AH lighting (Hawes et al., 1991; Fitzsimmons and Newcombe, 1991). Clearly, the effects on turkey egg weights of starting AH lighting at 26 wk of age can be short-lived and the results suggested that variations in duration of effects are not due to BW or rate of lay. ...
... The improved egg production was more a consequence of time in lay than rate of lay. Temporary use of 26 h light-dark cycles at an early age with chickens resulted in depressed egg production even after cessation of AH lighting (Hawes et al., 1991), whereas 28 h cycles had short-term but not long-term adverse effects (Zimmermann and Nam, 1989). In neither chickens nor turkeys has an AH photoperiod been demonstrated to induce a sustained rate of egg production exceeding that obtained with 24 h light-dark cycles. ...
Ahemeral (non-24 h) light-dark cycles are known to increase egg size but when applied continuously have adverse effects on egg production. The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether temporary application of ahemeral light-dark cycles (AH) can overcome the adverse effects of continuous AH and provide improved reproductive performance of turkey hens photostimulated at an early age. Of particular interest was the effect of temporary AH on increasing egg weight at the start of lay because decreased egg weight is a major problem associated with early lighting of turkey hens. The AH treatments started at 26 wk of age and were given for 2 wk, 5 wk, or continuously. Each consisted of 15 h of light per cycle with a cycle length of 28 h duration, that is, 15 h light (L):13 h dark (D). The experiment was started in the winter season and continued for 28 wk. The following variables were measured: BW, feed intake, onset and rate of lay, fertility, hatchability, incidence of floor eggs, egg weight, poult production, and poult weight. It was clear that 5 wk or more of AH followed by standard lighting (15L:9D) increased initial egg weights from those of 26-wk controls and were similar to those of 30-wk controls. This effect was temporary, as it was absent by 8 wk of photostimulation. Also, cumulative eggs per hen to 54 wk of age were increased by 5 wk of AH treatment as compared to those of controls photo-stimulated at 30 wk of age. These eggs had normal fertility, hatchability, and poults per hen in two evaluation periods. A high incidence of AH floor eggs was reduced to that of the controls following a shift to standard light-dark cycles. We concluded that temporary use of AH at the start of photostimulation is better than continuous use of AH throughout lay and resulted in improved reproductive performance of hens photostimulated at an early age.
... Because beneficial effects on egg weight and poult weight occur most prominently early in lay, the possibility exists for a transient, early use of ahemeral lighting to maximize benefits and minimize adverse effects. This early use has been addressed in chickens with both negative and positive results (Zimmermann and Nam, 1989; Fitzsimmons and Newcombe, 1991; Hawes et al., 1991; Shanawany, 1992). ...
An experiment was conducted to determine whether ahemeral lighting (AH) could be used to obtain increased egg weight and poult weight and otherwise normal reproductive performance in Large White turkey hens lit as early as 26 wk of age. The experimental design utilized a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments that evaluated two light cycle lengths (24 h, control and 28 h, ahemeral) at two hen ages (26 and 30 wk). Treatments were continued for 24 wk and the following variables were measured: BW, feed intake, onset and rate of lay, fertility, hatchability, incidence of floor eggs, egg weight, poult production, and poult weight. As compared to the response of hens in the control lighting treatment, ahemeral lighting increased egg weight and poult weight early in the lay period only and resulted in delayed onset of lay (+3.4 d) and depressed egg production (-7 eggs to 54 wk of age). Percentage fertility and hatchability were similar between ahemeral and control treatment groups. However, ahemeral lighting decreased the number of poults per hen when started at 26, but not 30, wk of age. Hens photostimulated early at 26 wk of age were delayed in onset of lay by 5.9 d but produced more eggs per hen to 54 wk of age (95.8) than hens photostimulated at 30 wk (89.7); however, during equivalent lay periods, egg production was similar between the two groups. Early lighting did not have an adverse effect on fertility, hatchability, or poults per hen but egg weight and poult weight were depressed. It was concluded that although ahemeral lighting increased egg weight and poult weight in turkey hens photostimulated early, continuous application of ahemeral lighting throughout the lay period had adverse effects on some components of reproductive performance.
... Moreover, egg production has been shown to be equal to that of pullets that were maintained continuously under 24-h light:dark cycles (Shanawany, 1982). Previous work at the University of Maine (Hawes et al., 1991) compared hemeral (24 h) with ahemeral (26 h) lighting schedules for early (16 wk) lightstimulated pullets. Egg weight was significantly improved during the ahemeral schedule (27 to 30 wk); however, egg numbers were significantly reduced for this period, as well as for the entire period of production (19 to 59 wk). ...
Brown egg pullets (DeKalb Sex-Sal) were subjected to an ahemeral lighting program to determine their response in terms of egg traits. All birds were reared on a conventional lighting program of 10 h light (L):14 h dark (D) to 16 wk. At 16 wk, all birds received a schedule of 11L:13D followed by a weekly 1-h increase in photoperiod to 14L:10D at 19 wk. Control treatment (CON) birds were continued on this schedule. Ahemeral treatment (AHM) birds were given a 28-h schedule 14L:14D at 23 wk that was continued to 28 wk, then returned to a 24-h cycle of 14L:10D. Shell weight responded quickly to the ahemeral treatment and showed a significant (P less than .05) increase during the 2nd 28-h cycle. Shell thickness and total egg weight showed significant increases on the 3rd cycle; albumen weight showed an increase on Cycle 4, and yolk weight increased significantly only on the 8th cycle. When AHM treatment birds were returned to a conventional cycle (14L:10D) at 28 wk, the total weight remained significantly higher (P less than .05) as late as Cycle 6.
432 Babcock ISA white leghorn pullets reared for 8 weeks on a standard managemental conditions were exposed to feed/nutrient and light restrictions from 9 to 20 weeks of age. Four feeding regimes i. e. 100, 85 or 70 percent of the recommended allowance and low energy (2,500 Kcal/kg) low protein (13% CP) ration were fed each in the three light regimes i. e. (A) Natural day light starting from 13.24 hr/day at 8 weeks of age and ending 10.41 hr/day at the end of 20 weeks; (B) Constant 11 hr/day light and (C) starting with 13 hr/day at 8 weeks and decreasing @ 20 min/week till 20 weeks of age. At the age of 20 weeks all the birds were shifted to separate cages under uniform lighting feeding and management. During the 21st week light was increased to 12 hr a day and thereafter with an increase of 30 min per week, increased to 16 hr a day at the age of 29 weeks. From 20 weeks onward till 72 week age, all the birds were offered commercial layer rations ad libitum, prepared according to climatic conditions. The results of the study revealed that birds reared under natural and constant light had higher weights than decreasing light, yet they could not out perform during production period. The effect of feed and nutrient restriction, on the other hand, was found significant during rearing as well as production period. The birds exposed to higher level of feed and those exposed to nutrient restriction were lighter in weight The 100% fed birds laid their first egg at an early age. However, those reared on 85% of the recommendation excelled all other groups in terms of produced number of eggs, egg mass, hen housed and hen day production and net returns.
The possible influence of age at change in cycle length and differences in effective photoperiod (Δp) on the response of layers to ahemeral light cycles have been examined. A brief account of the physiology of pattern of lay in the hen is given.When an ahemeral light cycle is applied, mean rate of lay in relation to a normal 24-h cycle changes. The change in mean rate of lay depends upon the rate of ovarian follicular maturation of the individuals in the flock at the time of change to an ahemeral cycle. Early in lay, when rate of follicular maturation is rapid, changing to a long light cycle reduces rate of lay, whereas changing to a short cycle could increase rate of lay. As rate of follicular maturation declines with age, changing to a long cycle late in lay leads to an improvement in rate of lay. Based on published reports, a theoretical curve of the response to a 28-h cycle is given showing the significance of age at which application is made. From the available literature it appears that, provided Δp ≥ 0, response to ahemeral light cycles is not affected.
One thousand five hundred twenty female and 152 male Arbor Acres feather-sexed broiler breeders were reared together in a litter-floored house under natural daylight. Groups were housed 40 females and 4 males per pen, in 38 pens, of an open-sided litter-floored layer house. They were subjected to artificial light treatment beginning at 20 weeks of age and given 14.5 hrs of light per day, with a weekly increase of 15 min until 16 hrs of artificial light was received at 26 weeks. At 26 weeks of age, half of the pens were given only two hours of artificial light per day at 0400 to 0500 and 1900 to 2000 while the other half of the pens continued to receive 16 hrs of artificial light per day (0400-2000). Egg production, egg weight, egg specific gravity, body weight, fertility and hatchability were recorded throughout the laying period until the birds were 60 weeks of age. The results of this experiment showed that egg production, egg weight, egg specific gravity, fertility and hatchability were not significantly affected by only giving artificial light for 1 hr early in the morning and 1 hr in the evening in conjunction with natural daylight in open-type houses.
1. The paper compares between three genetically different lines in their egg weight and shell thickness response to a 28-h cycle. 2. The response in shell thickness to ahemeral lighting was more rapid (2.2 d) than for egg weight (4.2 d). 3. Differences between genotypes were evident in both the speed and magnitude of response. 4. Overall, egg weight and shell thickness on the 28-h cycle were 7% and 8% greater than on 24 h. 5. The allometric increase indicates that the increase in shell weight was on average 14% more than the increase in egg weight.
