Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, S7N5A8.
Poult Sci. 2010 Nov;89(11):2326-33. doi: 10.3382/ps.2010-00964.
Manipulation of light intensity is an important management tool affecting broiler production and well being. Despite considerable research on light intensity, there is still a debate on the optimum level to be used for intensively housed broilers. Two trials were conducted with the objective of investigating the effect of light intensity, within the practical levels at confinement barns (1, 10, 20, and 40 lx), on production, processing characteristics, and welfare of broilers raised to 35 d of age. Each light intensity treatment was replicated in 2 environmentally controlled rooms in each trial with 950 Ross × Ross 308 chicks per room. Data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design with trial serving as a block. All chicks were exposed to 40 lx of light intensity and 23 h of light for the first 7 d followed by treatment light intensity and 17 h of day length thereafter. Body weight and feed consumption were determined at 7, 14, and 35 d of age. At the end of each trial, 60 birds per treatment were processed to determine the detailed meat yield. Skeletal and footpad and ocular health were monitored at 31 and 32 d of age, respectively. Body weight, feed consumption, feed:gain ratio, and mortality were unaffected by light intensity. Carcass, thigh, and drum yield as a percentage of live weight decreased linearly with increasing light intensity. The 1 lx treatment resulted in heavier wings as a percentage of live weight. Light intensity had no effect on skeletal health, but ulcerative footpad lesions decreased linearly with increasing light intensity. Birds exposed to the 1 lx treatment had heavier and larger eyes. In conclusion, light intensity did not affect broiler production and mortality but did affect carcass characteristics. The 1 lx light intensity treatment had a negative effect on broiler welfare as demonstrated by increased ulcerative footpad lesions and eye size.
光照强度的调控是影响肉鸡生产性能和福利的重要管理手段。尽管人们对光照强度进行了大量研究，但对于集约化饲养肉鸡的最佳光照强度水平仍存在争议。本研究进行了两项试验，旨在研究鸡舍内（1、10、20 和 40 lx）实际光照强度对 35 日龄肉鸡生产性能、加工特性和福利的影响。每个光照强度处理在每个试验中都有 2 个环境控制房间重复，每个房间有 950 只罗斯 308 雏鸡。数据采用随机完全区组设计进行分析，试验为区组。所有雏鸡在前 7 天内暴露于 40 lx 的光照强度和 23 小时光照下，然后接受处理光照强度和 17 小时光照。在 7、14 和 35 日龄时测定体重和采食量。每个试验结束时，每个处理取 60 只鸡进行屠宰，以确定详细的肉产量。在 31 和 32 日龄时分别监测骨骼、脚垫和眼部健康。光照强度对体重、采食量、饲料：增重比和死亡率没有影响。胴体、大腿和鸡腿肉产量占活重的百分比随光照强度的增加呈线性下降。1 lx 处理组的翅膀占活重的百分比较重。光照强度对骨骼健康没有影响，但脚垫溃疡病变随光照强度的增加呈线性下降。暴露于 1 lx 处理组的鸡眼睛更大、更重。总之，光照强度不会影响肉鸡的生产性能和死亡率，但会影响胴体特性。1 lx 的光照强度处理对肉鸡福利产生负面影响，表现为脚垫溃疡病变增加和眼睛增大。
