Effects of lighting intensity on growth and reproductive performance of breeder geese

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of lighting intensity on egg production among white Roman geese kept in an environmentally controlled house. Two hundred and fifty-two White Roman geese aged 10 mo were randomly distributed among 12 pens, with each pen containing 5 ganders and 16 females on the floor, based on a completely random design (CRD). At the beginning of the study, each treatment group was comprised of 5 ganders and 16 geese in each pen; these groups included: control (40 lux group), geese under 170 lux (170 lux group), geese under 300 lux (300 lux group), and geese under 430 lux (430 lux group). The age of the geese at first lay was 10 mo, on average. The results showed that geese under 40 lux in egg number per goose or laying rate had lower than those of the 430 lux group. The reproductive characteristics were no different for the 170 lux, 300 lux, or 430 lux light groups. The hatchability in the 170 lux light group was significantly higher than in the 40 lux light group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the egg weight in the 170 lux and 430 lux groups was significantly heavier than the 40 lux light group (P < 0.05). Therefore, if lighting intensity supplementation of lux is defined as X (lux/geese), and egg number production is defined as Y4 (egg), then Y4 = 35.7 + 0.46X-0.002X2+0.00000296X3 (R2 = 0.868, P < 0.001) for the entire experimental period. In conclusion, geese raised under 170 lux lighting intensity in an environmentally controlled house achieved higher hatchability and egg weight during the laying season.