-The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of photoperiod length and light intensity on leg and eye health, tonic immobility, some blood parameters, carcass, and meat quality characteristics in broilers. A total of 272 one-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to four treatment groups based on the photoperiod length (23L:1D or increasing duration of light) and light intensity (20 lux vs. dim light) with four replicates. In this study, photoperiod lenght had no effect on incidence of foot pad and hock burn. On the other hand, the effect of photoperiod lenght had significant influence on the gait score. The incidences of gait score (3 + 4 + 5) in bright and dim light groups was found as 21.4 and 41.0% in broilers, respectively. In addition, the effect of light intensity had statistical significance on gait score. The tonic immobility duration in 20 lux and dim light groups were 271.53 and 226.78 s, respectively, and tonic immobility duration was unaffected by light intensity. All the blood parameters, except for triglyceride, were not affected by light intensity. The dim light had a negative effect on broiler welfare as demonstrated by increased eye weight and dimensions. Cold carcass yield and whole breast and wing yields were lower in the dim light group than in 20 lux light intensity. The broilers kept with dim light had lower breast meat ultimate pH (6.19) and L* values (54.30) than those reared with 20 lux. These findings have a lot of implications on the use of increasing photoperiod and bright light to improve leg an eye health benefits for the broiler welfare in broilers.

Citation of This ArticleDereli Fidan E, Nazligül A,Türkyilmaz MK, Karaarslan S, Kaya M: Effects of photoperiod length and light intensity on performance, carcass characteristics and heterophil to lymphocyte ratio in broilers. Kafkas Univ Vet Fak Derg, 23, 39-45, 2017. DOI: 10.9775/kvfd.2016 AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate the effects of photoperiod length and light intensity on performance, carcass characteristics and heterophil to lymphocyte ratio in broilers. A total of 272 1 day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to four treatment groups based on the photoperiod length (23L:1D or increasing duration of light) and light intensity (20 lux vs. a dim, reducing intensity) with four replicates. At 42 d of age, effects of photoperiod length and light intensity on performance traits were not significant. The heterophil/ lymphocyte ratio in 20 lux and dim, reducing light intensity groups were 0.30 and 0.15 (P<0.001), respectively. On the other hand, the effect of light intensity has no influence on heterophil/lymphocyte ratio. Cold and hot carcass weights and whole breast meat and wing weights were found lower in the dim, reducing light intensity group than 20 lux light intensity group. The effects of photoperiod length and light intensity on carcass characteristics were not significant, statistically. In conclusion, it can be said that body weight, feed consumption, feed convertion ratio, whole breast meat and wing weights were increased by providing the increasing photoperiod used with a 20 lux light intensity in broiler breeding. Keywords: Broiler, Carcass, Heterophil/lymphocyte ratio, Light intensity, Performance, Photoperiod Etlik piliçlerde Fotoperiyot Uzunluğu ve Işık Şiddetinin Performans, Karkas Özellikleri ve Heterofil/Lenfosit Oranı Üzerine Etkileri ÖzetBu çalışmanın amacı fotoperiyot uzunluğu ve ışık şiddetinin etlik piliçlerde performans, karkas özellikleri ve heterofil/lenfosit oranı üzerine etkilerinin araştırılmasıdır. Bir günlük yaşta toplam 272 adet (Ross 308) erkek civcivler fotoperiyot uzunluğu (23A:1K veya giderek artan aydınlık süre) ve ışık şiddeti (20 lüks veya giderek azalan ışık şiddeti) faktörlerine göre dört gruba, dört tekrarlı olacak şekilde rastgele olarak dağıtılmıştır. Kırkiki günlük yaşta, performans özellikleri üzerine, fotoperiyot uzunluğu ve ışık şiddetinin etkileri önemsiz bulunmuştur. Yirmi lüks ve giderek azalan ışık şiddeti gruplarında, heterofil/lenfosit oranı sırasıyla 0.30 ve 0.15 olarak bulunmuş olup, gruplar arası farklar istatistik bakımdan önemli (P<0.001) çıkmıştır. Diğer taraftan, ışık şiddetinin heterofil/lenfosit oranı üzerine önemli bir etkisinin olmadığı saptanmıştır. Sıcak ve soğuk karkas ağırlık ortalaması, bütün göğüs eti ve kanat ağırlık ortalaması değerleri giderek azalan ışık şiddeti grubunda, 20 lüks ışık şiddeti grubuna göre daha düşük olarak belirlenmiştir. Tüm karkas özellikleri üzerine fotoperiyot uzunluğu ve ışık şiddetinin etkisi istatistiksel olarak önemsiz çıkmıştır. Sonuç olarak, etlik piliç yetiştiriciliğind...

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Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum mineral levels and parasite load in Saanen (n=37) and Damascus (n=13) goats, which were all approximately 2 months pregnant and naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes. Methods: To determine parasite concentration individually, fecal samples were taken from each goat, and the eggs per gram (EPG) of feces was detected via a modified McMaster technique. To investigate the possible effects of parasite concentration on serum mineral levels, blood was drawn from the goats and serum calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, copper, zinc, manganese, nickel, and cadmium levels were measured via the ICP-OES technique. Results: In a correlation analysis of the individual EPG values and mineral levels performed on the basis of the species, it was seen that increased egg numbers did not cause a statistically significant increase or decrease in Saanens except for cadmium (significant moderate positive correlation, p<0.05) for both species. A comparison of the mineral element levels with the lower and upper normal limits in the published literature found that manganese and iron were below the normal range, while zinc and calcium levels were close to the lower limits. Conclusion: It is estimated that the effect of parasite load, which continuously increases with the progression of pregnancy and deliveries, on blood mineral levels would be much more significant. Yöntemler: Parazit yoğunluğunun bireysel olarak belirlenmesi için her keçiden dışkı örneği alınarak modifiye McMaster tekniği ile gram dışkıdaki yumurta sayıları (EPG) belirlenmiştir. Parazit yoğunluğunun serum mineral düzeylerine olası etkilerini araştırmak için keçilerden kan örnekleri alınmış ve ICP-OES tekniği ile serumda kalsiyum, fosfor, magnesyum, demir, bakır, çinko, mangan, nikel, kadmiyum düzeyleri tespit edilmiştir. Bulgular: Irk düzeyinde bireysel EPG değerleri ile mineral düzeylerinin korelasyon analizlerinde; artan yumurta sayısının Saanen'lerde Kadmiyum hariç (pozitif yönde orta derecede önemli korelasyon, P<0.05) her iki ırk için de istatistiki açıdan önemli bulunabilecek artış ya da azalmalara sebep olmadığı görülmüştür. Her iki ırk için tespit edilen mineral değer ortalamaları literatürlerde bildirilen alt ve üst sınır değerlere göre incelendiğinde mangan ve demirin normal değerlerin altında, bakır, çinko ve kalsiyumun alt sınır değerlere yakın olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Sonuç: Gebeliğin ilerlemesi ve doğumlarla giderek artacak olan parazit yükünün kan mineral seviyelerine olan etkisinin çok daha belirgin olacağı tahmin edilmektedir.

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