Effect of monochromatic light stimuli during embryogenesis on muscular growth, chemical composition, and meat quality of breast muscle in male broilers

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of monochromatic light stimuli during embryogenesis on breast muscle growth, chemical composition, and meat quality of male broilers. Fertile broiler eggs (Arbor Acres; n = 1,320) were preweighed and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups in 3 modified incubators: 1) control group (in dark condition), 2) monochromatic green light group (560 nm), and 3) monochromatic blue light group (480 nm). The monochromatic lighting systems sourced from light-emitting diode lamps and were equalized at the intensity of 15 lx at eggshell level. After hatch, 120 male chicks from each group were placed in 6 replicates with 20 birds each. All of the birds were housed under white light (30 lx at bird-head level) with a light schedule of 23L:1D. At 21, 35, and 42 d of age, BW and breast muscle weight in the green light group were significantly increased compared with birds in the blue or dark groups (P < 0.05). The breast muscle weight and breast muscle percentages in birds incubated under green light were significantly elevated by 50.39 g (0.76%) and 54.07 g (1.20%) than those in the dark condition or blue group at 42 d of market age (P < 0.05), respectively. In the green light group, feed intake during 0~42 d was higher than that in the other 2 treatment groups (P < 0.05); feed conversion ratio during 0~35 and 0~42 d were lower than that in the dark condition (P < 0.05). No significant differences in the contents of breast moisture, CP, crude fat, and crude ash among all groups were observed (P > 0.05). Green light stimuli tended to increase cooking loss (P = 0.08) and L* value of 24-h meat color (P = 0.09). These results suggest that green light stimuli during embryogenesis enhanced the posthatch BW of male broilers, increased breast muscle growth, and improved the feed conversion ratio, but it did not cause any noticeable changes in breast chemical composition or overall meat quality characteristics.

Exposing broiler eggs to green, red and white light during incubation

“…Green light exposure during incubation has also been observed to down regulate the green and red opsins, whereas red light enhances their expression (Rozenboim et al, 2013). Green light exposure during incubation has also been shown to improve feed conversion ratio (FCR) post-hatch in broilers (Zhang et al, 2011).…”

Changes of Plasma Growth Hormone, Insulin-Like Growth Factors-I, Thyroid Hormones, and Testosterone Concentrations in Embryos and Broiler Chickens Incubated under Monochromatic Green Light

“…In addition, previous studies showed that white light provided by incandescent lamps stimuli during incubation elevated egg core temperature, which further accelerated embryo development and shortened hatching time (Shutze et al, 1962;Siegel et al, 1969). However, both low-power LED lamps and microcomputer automatic temperature control incubator can adjust the core temperature to maintaining a set value (37.8±0.1°C), which also offers an explanation why no significant difference in hatching time was found in our previous study (Zhang et al, 2012).…”

“…During this stage, embryo survival rates improved when concentrations of embryonic thyroid hormones increased (Christensen and Davis, 2004). In the current study, both plasma T4 and T3 levels in embryo chicks were not affected by continuous green light stimuli during incubation, which may be linked to the absence of significant difference in death of the embryos and hatchability between the green light and control (Zhang et al, 2012;2014). In addition, previous studies showed that white light provided by incandescent lamps stimuli during incubation elevated egg core temperature, which further accelerated embryo development and shortened hatching time (Shutze et al, 1962;Siegel et al, 1969).…”

“…One hundred and twenty male chicks from each incubation group were placed in 6 replicates with 20 birds each. All of the birds were housed under white light (30 lx at birdhead level) with a light schedule of 23 h light and 1 h dark according to Rozenboim et al (2004) and lights off from 21:00 h to 22:00 h as described by Zhang et al (2012). All the birds were allowed ad libitum access to a commercial diet for broiler chickens and 24-h access to water.…”

“…Rozenboim et al (2003Rozenboim et al ( , 2004 reported that intermittent monochromatic green light photostimulation during embryogenesis enhanced the embryo development and posthatch growth in broilers and turkeys. Recently, Zhang et al (2012Zhang et al ( , 2014 also found that continuous monochromatic green LED light stimuli during embryogenesis accelerated BW and posthatch pectoral muscle growth of broilers. However, whether this growth-promoting effect is mediated through regulation of endocrine axes (somatotrophic, thyroid hormone and gonadal axes) is still unknown.…”