Effects of light sources, photoperiods, and strains on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and health indices of broilers grown to heavy weights (>3 kg) were evaluated. The experimental design was a 4 × 2 × 2 factorial treatments consisting of 4 light sources [incandescent (ICD, standard), compact fluorescent light, neutral light emitting diode (Neutral-LED), and cool poultry specific LED (Cool-poultry specific (PS)-LED)], 2 photoperiods (regular/intermittent [2L:2D], and short [8L:16D]), and 2 strains (A, B). In each trial, chicks of 2 different strains from different commercial hatcheries were equally and randomly distributed into 16 environmentally controlled rooms at 1 D of age. Each room was randomly assigned one of 16 treatments from day 1 to 56 D of age. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. Birds were provided a 4 phase-feeding program (starter, grower, finisher, withdrawal). Birds and feed were weighed on 1, 14, 28, 42, and 56 D of age for growth performance. On day 56, a total of 20 (10 males and 10 females) birds from each room were processed to determine weights and yields. The BW, BW gain, live weight, and carcass weight of birds reared under PS-LED were higher (P < 0.05) in comparison with birds reared under ICD, but feed intake, feed conversion ratio, mortality, and carcass characteristics were not affected by treatments. Also, broilers subjected to the short/non-intermittent photoperiod had the lowest (P < 0.05) growth performance and carcass characteristics compared with values obtained for regular/intermittent photoperiods. In addition, strain was significant (P < 0.05) for most of the examined variables. Feed conversion, fat, tender, and yield were not affected by treatments. There was no effect of photoperiod, light sources, or their interactions on mortality. This study shows positive impacts on alternative light sources when compared to ICD along with regular/intermittent photoperiod in commercial poultry facilities rearing the 2 strains used in this study, thereby reducing energy costs and optimizing production efficiency without compromising the welfare of broilers grown to heavy weights.

中文翻译：

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光源、光周期和品系对生长至体重的肉鸡生长性能、胴体特征和健康指数的交互影响1。


评估了光源、光周期和品系对生长到重（>3 kg）的肉鸡的生长性能、胴体特征和健康指数的影响。实验设计为 4 × 2 × 2 因子处理，由 4 个光源组成[白炽灯（ICD，标准）、紧凑型荧光灯、中性发光二极管（Neutral-LED）和酷禽专用 LED（Cool-poultry Specific（ PS)-LED)]、2 个光周期（定期/间歇 [2L:2D] 和短 [8L:16D]）和 2 个菌株（A、B）。在每次试验中，来自不同商业孵化场的 2 种不同品系的雏鸡在 1 天龄时均等随机分配到 16 个环境控制室中。从第 1 天到第 56 天，每个房间被随机分配 16 种治疗方法之一。饲料和水随意提供。为家禽提供 4 个阶段的喂养计划（开食期、生长期、育肥期、停药期）。在 1、14、28、42 和 56 日龄时对鸡和饲料进行称重以了解生长性能。第 56 天，对每个房间的总共 20 只鸡（10 只雄性和 10 只雌性）进行处理以确定重量和产量。与 ICD 饲养的鸡相比，PS-LED 饲养的鸡的体重、体重增加量、活重和胴体重量较高 (P < 0.05)，但采食量、饲料转化率、死亡率和胴体特性却没有增加。受治疗影响。此外，与常规/间歇光周期获得的值相比，接受短/非间歇光周期的肉鸡具有最低的生长性能和胴体特征（P< 0.05）。此外，对于大多数检查变量来说，应变是显着的（P< 0.05）。饲料转化率、脂肪、嫩度和产量不受处理的影响。 光周期、光源或其相互作用对死亡率没有影响。本研究表明，与 ICD 相比，替代光源以及饲养本研究中使用的 2 种菌株的商业家禽设施中的定期/间歇光周期具有积极影响，从而降低能源成本并优化生产效率，同时不影响长至体重较大的肉鸡的福利。