The Effect of Feeder Space and Light Treatment on Broiler Performance

Abstract

Feeder space requirements were studied in two intermittent lighting (IL) regimes and compared to a continuous lighting (CL) control. Both IL programs were initiated at one week of age. In Experiments 1 and 2 (totaling 12,000 chicks), 1.8, 2.3, and 2.7 cm of circular feeder space per bird were evaluated in a 15 min light: 45 min dark IL (15:45 IL) schedule. In Experiments 3, 4, and 5 (18,000 chicks total), two levels of feeder space (1.8 and 2.3 cm/bird) were studied in a 2 hr light: 4 hr dark IL (2:4IL) program. Compared to CL, IL reared broilers in Experiment 1 weighed significantly less at 27 and 54 days of age while no differences were observed in Experiment 2. Differences in feed conversion at these ages were nonsignificant in Experiment 1 but IL had statistically superior feed efficiency (P<.05) at 27 and 54 days of age in Experiment 2. When the 54 day body weight results of Experiments 1 and 2 were pooled, broilers in IL on 1.8 cm/bird feeder space tended to weigh slightly less than those on 2.3 or 2.7 cm/bird feeder space treatments. As feeder space increased, there was also a slight proportional nonsignificant improvement in 54 day feed conversion in the IL regime. In Experiments 3, 4, and 5, broilers in the 2:4 IL program were significantly heavier and had better feed efficiency than CL controls at both 27 and 54 days of age. At 27 days of age, there was a light × feeder space interaction with IL broilers responding better to higher feeder space than CL with respect to feed conversion. Neither light nor feeder space treatment had a significant effect on mortality. The 2:4 IL carcasses had significantly more breast blister downgrades than did CL. In both IL programs, leucosis condemnations were significantly higher than the controls. Airsacculitis and septicemia/toxemia condemnations were slightly less in the IL group than in the CL birds.