FORM OF LAYING HENS EGGS IN THE FUNCTION OF DIFFERENT LAMPS USED IN PRODUCTION

Danilo F Pereira,Bartira De O Tavares,Priscilla A B Mac Lean

doi:10.1590/1809-4430-eng.agric.v37n5p848-854/2017

Danilo F Pereira, Bartira De O Tavares + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1809-4430-eng.agric.v37n5p848-854/2017

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Abstract

ABSTRACT: Lighting, either in its intensity or in its luminous spectrum, affects the eggs quality. This study evaluated the effect of four lamps (sodium vapor lamp, mercury vapor lamp, fluorescent lamp and incandescent lamp) that have different luminous spectra in the form of commercial poultry eggs. For this, 60 laying hens of the same age were separated for 63 days in four aviaries with reduced and distorted scale. In each treatment, different lamps were installed which provided similar luminous intensities. At the end of the period, these eggs were taken as samples for the fluorescent, incandescent, mercury vapor and sodium vapor lamps. In this way, images were made of these eggs, using a camera installed on a fixed tripod on a flat table with black background. In a room with controlled lighting, ensuring the same distance and angle for all eggs. The Matlab® program was used to perform the image analysis, recording measurements of area, perimeter and minimum and maximum distances of the mass center of each egg. The measurements were grouped by treatment and the Tukey's test of averages was applied. The results showed that the eggs removed from the sodium vapor treatment presented a more elongated shape. It is concluded that the light spectrum of the lamps affects the shape of the eggs and this should be considered in the planning of lighting programs in aviaries.

Highlights

The contamination of the eggs can occur horizontally through penetration in the shell and membranes of the shell by contaminating substances found in the poultry environment (Gantois et al, 2009)
In each aviary was installed a type of lighting: sodium vapor, mercury vapor, fluorescent and incandescent with different distribution of the light spectrum of each lamp (Figure 1)
It was considered through evaluation and constant control in the environment that the variables external temperature, feed, water availability, shed characteristics and lighting level were similar for all treatments, so that differences in the observed egg shape were attributed to treatments light sources

Summary

Introduction

Many studies report light as an important element for the health and behavior of poultry, and can affect them through interactions between physiological responses (Kristensen, 2006), behavioral (Macari, 2002) and productive characteristics (Navarro & Lahti, 2014; Borille et al, 2015).To evaluating the effects of the use of led technology on artificial lighting of Japanese quail, Jácome et al (2012) tested four different lamps: Incandescent 15W and leds (blue, orange and white) and did not find significant differences (p> 0.05) for mean egg weight, shell weight and shell thickness between treatments.Er et al (2007) studied the effects of monochromatic lamps (red, blue, green and white) on laying hens from 38 to 52 weeks and found that the eggs laid by the hens in the blue lamps had their length diminished in relation to the other lamps and, under red light had their width diminished in relation to the other colors.The egg size and its shape directly affect the quality of the shell. Altuntas & Sekeroglu (2008) found that longer eggs than wide ones have a lower compression strength which could interfere with their transport and storage.Egg shell provides protection against contamination by bacteria and other pathogens, so any deformity in the shell can disaggregate value and quality to the egg, causing damage to the production system (Hunton, 2002). Many studies report light as an important element for the health and behavior of poultry, and can affect them through interactions between physiological responses (Kristensen, 2006), behavioral (Macari, 2002) and productive characteristics (Navarro & Lahti, 2014; Borille et al, 2015). Er et al (2007) studied the effects of monochromatic lamps (red, blue, green and white) on laying hens from 38 to 52 weeks and found that the eggs laid by the hens in the blue lamps had their length diminished in relation to the other lamps and, under red light had their width diminished in relation to the other colors. The egg size and its shape directly affect the quality of the shell. The contamination of the eggs can occur horizontally through penetration in the shell and membranes of the shell by contaminating substances found in the poultry environment (Gantois et al, 2009)

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