Biomaterial Database

Constant photoperiods and eggshell quality in broiler breeder pullets. 2005

D Backhouse, and P D Lewis, and R M Gous

School of Agricultural Sciences and Agribusiness, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, South Africa. 982176353@ukzn.ac.za

Broiler breeder pullets were exposed to constant 10-, 11-, 12-, 13-, 14- or 16-h photoperiods from 3 d of age. Egg weight, eggshell weight and shell thickness index were determined at 52 weeks of age. Egg weight increased by 0.31 g, shell weight decreased by 30 mg and shell thickness index decreased by 0.57 mg/cm2 for each one-hour increase in photoperiod. Whilst the changes in egg weight and eggshell thickness index might be overstated because eggs were collected at the same chronological time, the effect of time of egg-laying within the day was minimal in comparison, and did not negate the conclusion that egg weight increases, and shell weight and thickness index decrease with lengthening photoperiods. The effect of photoperiod on eggshell quality was not due to differences in the rate of lay between treatments. Shell weight was unaffected by time of lay.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010058	Oviposition	The process of laying or shedding fully developed eggs (OVA) from the female body. The term is usually used for certain INSECTS or FISHES with an organ called ovipositor where eggs are stored or deposited before expulsion from the body.	Larviposition,Larvipositions,Ovipositions
D002645	Chickens	Common name for the species Gallus gallus, the domestic fowl, in the family Phasianidae, order GALLIFORMES. It is descended from the red jungle fowl of SOUTHEAST ASIA.	Gallus gallus,Gallus domesticus,Gallus gallus domesticus,Chicken
D004528	Egg Shell	A hard or leathery calciferous exterior covering of an egg.	Eggshell,Egg Shells,Eggshells,Shell, Egg,Shells, Egg
D005260	Female		Females
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D017440	Photoperiod	The time period of daily exposure that an organism receives from daylight or artificial light. It is believed that photoperiodic responses may affect the control of energy balance and thermoregulation.	Dark-Light Cycle,Daylight Cycle,Light Cycle,Light-Dark Cycle,Cycle, Dark-Light,Cycle, Daylight,Cycle, Light,Cycle, Light-Dark,Cycles, Dark-Light,Cycles, Daylight,Cycles, Light,Cycles, Light-Dark,Dark Light Cycle,Dark-Light Cycles,Daylight Cycles,Light Cycles,Light Dark Cycle,Light-Dark Cycles,Photoperiods