Application of Flashed Lighting Program in Naked Neck Chickens (Sharkasi) Management

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of application flash lighting program on performance and physiological status of naked neck chickens. Three hundred and sixty, four weeks old birds were randomly distributed into 6 experimental groups (3 replicates of 20 birds each) and housed in floor pens. The first group (control group, C), birds were maintained under 12 hrs and 16 hrs common light (CL) per day during the growing and laying periods, respectively. While, in the other groups, birds were exposed to light flashes for 10 minute/hour (T1), 20 minute/hour (T2), 30 minute/hour (T3), 40 minute/hour (T4) and 50 minute/hour (T5) for 12 and 16 hrs light/day during the growing and laying periods, respectively. Main results indicated that light flashes program significantly (P≤0.05) improved growth efficiency, carcass dressing percentage, breast percentage, abdominal fat percentage, egg laying rate, egg shell thickness, sexual parameters and healthy status. Also, estradiol hormone significantly (P≤0.05) increased by application of flash lighting program. However, long period of light flashes program recorded the worst values as in general performance and welfare (H / L ratio and tonic immobility values). Insignificant (P>0.05) effect were observed in drumstick, femur, liver, heart, gizzard, most blood components, egg shape or yolk, Haugh units, leg problems, plumage conditions, bone lengths, age at sexual maturity, genital organs and hatchability percentages. From an economical point of view, it is observed that the birds exposed to light flashes periods for 10 to 30 minutes/hour were superior to that of birds in other groups. Using short periods of light flashes might be suitable as alternative light to continuous or common light for managing Sharkasi chicken in sight and stimulation of internal organs or hormones release without oppositely affecting the physiological response, healthy traits and welfare.

Growth, carcass traits, immunity and oxidative status of broilers exposed to continuous or intermittent lighting programs

“…Similarly, Farghly et al [45] found that no significant differences were observed for all blood parameters of flash lighting treated chickens and those of the control. Furthermore, Farghly M et al [46] found that there was no change in plasma total protein, total lipids, cholesterol, and liver function enzymes as affected by lighting periods.…”

Evaluation of Factors Affecting Productivity and Profitability of Lohmann Brown Layers in A Semi-Arid Environment

“…Studies from across the world and in recent times have reported that when layer hens of appropriate genetics (Küçükyilmaz et al, 2012) are fed appropriate quantities and quality of feed at the correct age and housed at optimum temperatures and humidity, and are allowed appropriate photoperiod, they produce the highest quantity and best quality of eggs (Farghly et al, 2017;Guo et al, 2019;Idowu et al, 2019;John-Jaja et al, 2016;Sallam et al, 2019). Unfavourable environmental conditions compromise the welfare of laying hens (Janczak and Riber, 2015), and the modern consumer of products of animal origin is increasingly preferring products from animals raised under ideal welfare conditions (Cao et al, 2017).…”

“…Layers are photo-stimulated by more than 12 hours of light, regardless of the program of artificial lighting used (Jácome et al, 2014). According to one study involving brown egg-laying breeds, interrupted lighting regimes totalling as low as 4hr (Han et al, 2017) of total light per day or delivered as flash lights (Farghly et al, 2017) were sufficient to maintain satisfactory egg production when compared to the traditional 14hr/day lighting regime (Skoglund and Whittaker, 1980). However, Lohmann Tierzucht recommend that about 12-14 hours of lighting is sufficient for top egg production in Lohmann Brown layers (Lohmann Tierzucht, 2018b).…”

Effects of Light Regimens and Vitamin D3 Levels and Their Interactions on Broilers Growth Performance and Carcass Traits

“…mixing photo and scoto -periods within 24 hours) rather than one continuous photoperiod have been proven to significantly improve broilers' carcass yield. Farghly et al, (2017) reported that light flashes program significantly improved carcass dressing percentage, breast percentage and abdominal fat percentage. Metwally et al, (2015) reported that light type significantly affected carcass traits.…”

“…Also, changes were not observed in spleen percentage of the broilers reared under the different lighting programs. Farghly et al, (2017) reported that light flashes program has insignificant effect in drumstick, femur, liver, heart and gizzard . Okafor and Kalio (2017) reported that there was a significant difference in the weight of the gizzards at the 80% and 100% inclusion levels.…”