Study on the optimum light requirements on productive and reproductive performance of local chicken strain: 1. Increasing lighting system effects on specific body structure measurements for local bandarah males strain [electronic resouce].

Includes references.

This experiment was conducted to study the effect of increasing photoperiods during the growing period on the production performance and some morphometric traits of Bandarah cockerels at 22 wk of age. At 6 weeks of age 100 males were transferred to an environmentally controlled rooms and classified into two equal groups: First: lighting regimen was increased gradually from 8h/d by half an hour each week to reach 16h/d at 22 wk of age, second: lighting regimen was increased similar to that for natural daylight at the same time of year from 10h/d to reach 14 h/d at 22 wk of age. Body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio were recorded. At 22 weeks of age, carcass, carcass yield, bone conformation, fluctuating asymmetry of bilateral bone traits were measured. Results showed that first lighting regimen had surpassed significantly (P<0.05) the second lighting regimen with respect to body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio, carcass, Gizzard, liver, breast meat (right and left sides) and thigh meat (right and left sides) percentages. Combs for the cocks grown under the first lighting regimen had a significant (P<0.05) larger size compared to those grown under the second ones. No significant differences were recorded between treatments in tibia, femur, humerus length, beside keel and tarsus length and width. In general, second regimen had the highest fluctuating asymmetry of bones compared to those exposed to the first one. It means that the birds of first lighting regimen had the highest quality of body structure for cocks.

Summary in Arabic.

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