Chapter 13 - The influence of intermittent light on broiler performance and on patterns of food intake

Abstract

This chapter describes the influence of intermittent light on broiler performance and on patterns of food intake. Two separate trials were conducted to investigate the effect of lighting patterns of 1L:2D and 1L:3D from one week of age till seven weeks, both in comparison to continuous lighting on female broiler weight gain, feed efficiency, abdominal fat pad weight, and on daily feeding patterns. In the first trial, female broilers kept under 1L:2D manifested the same growth rate as birds under 23.5L:0.5D, but consumed significantly less food and consequently had a better efficiency of feed utilization. Abdominal fat pad weight was significantly reduced under this intermittent lighting regime. As food consumption was not affected by lighting treatment, 1L:3D broilers had a better efficiency of feed utilization. Abdominal fat pad weight at slaughter age of the broilers exposed to 1L:3D was statistically heavier in comparison to the control birds but this difference disappeared when expressed as a proportion of slaughter weight. As 1L:3D broilers reached a heavier live body weight at slaughter age and abdominal fat pad weight increases proportionally faster than live body weight, this means, in fact, a reduction in abdominal fat content for broilers exposed to the intermittent lighting regime.