Abstract
Abstract 1. Two hundred and sixty four dwarf broiler breeder hens were subjected to ad libitum or restricted feeding and to four lighting patterns: 15L (bright light):9D (dark), 15L:9d (dim light), 2L:10d: 1L:11d, (0.5L:3.5d) × 6. 2. Breeder hens fed ad libitum and subjected to either conventional or intermittent lighting ingested respectively, 25 g and 14 to 17 g more than hens restricted to 115 g/d. 3. Body weight was greater in hens fed ad libitum irrespective of the lighting pattern and of the amount of food intake. 4. Persistency of egg production was impaired by intermittent lighting. 5. Ad libitum feeding reduced egg fertility. The decrease was larger in breeder hens on intermittent lighting. 6. Hatchability was increased in hens submitted to the symmetrical lighting pattern (0.5L:3.5d). 7. Egg and chick weights were higher in hens fed ad libitum. 8. Shell index and shell breaking strength increased in restricted hens on the intermittent lighting pattern (0.5L:3.5d) × 6. 9. The best performance was obtained in restricted hens on the conventional lighting pattern.
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