Ahemeral lighting of turkey breeder hens. 1. Cycle length effects on egg production and egg characteristics. 1997

T D Siopes, and E R Neely
Department of Poultry Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695-7608, USA.

A study was conducted to determine the effective range of light-dark cycle lengths for reproductive performance in turkey hens. The treatments consisted of seven different light-dark cycle lengths: 21, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, and 30 h each with a 15-h photophase per cycle. Data were collected for BW, feed intake, livability, onset and rate of egg production, egg weight (EW), shell thickness, and weight of egg components. The results indicate that turkey hens can be induced to lay eggs with light-dark cycle lengths other than 24 h (ahemeral) with practical extremes being about 23 to 28 h. Egg production in the ahemeral treatments never significantly exceeded that occurring in the 24 h group and the percentage of floor eggs increased at cycle lengths greater than 26 h and at 21 h. Cycle lengths of 21 and 30 h provided the most extreme deviations in the quantity and quality of eggs from those obtained on a 24 h cycle length. Shell thickness increased consistently as cycle lengths increased from 23 to 30 h. Egg weight increased in a curvilinear manner as cycle lengths increased or decreased from 24 h. This increase was associated with increases in shell, yolk, and albumen weight; however, the contribution by each was inconsistent, varying by cycle length as well as time on treatment. It may be concluded that an effective practical range of light-dark cycles for turkeys is 23 to 28 h and that 28 h is a reasonable limit to maximize EW and shell thickness while minimizing a reduction in egg production.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008029 Lighting The illumination of an environment and the arrangement of lights to achieve an effect or optimal visibility. Its application is in domestic or in public settings and in medical and non-medical environments. Illumination
D010047 Ovalbumin An albumin obtained from the white of eggs. It is a member of the serpin superfamily. Serpin B14
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
D004528 Egg Shell A hard or leathery calciferous exterior covering of an egg. Eggshell,Egg Shells,Eggshells,Shell, Egg,Shells, Egg
D004530 Egg Yolk Cytoplasm stored in an egg that contains nutritional reserves for the developing embryo. It is rich in polysaccharides, lipids, and proteins. Egg Yolks,Yolk, Egg,Yolks, Egg
D004531 Eggs Animal reproductive bodies, or the contents thereof, used as food. The concept is differentiated from OVUM, the anatomic or physiologic entity.
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
D013997 Time Factors Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations. Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor
D014422 Turkeys Large woodland game BIRDS in the subfamily Meleagridinae, family Phasianidae, order GALLIFORMES. Formerly they were considered a distinct family, Melegrididae. Meleagridinae,Meleagrididae

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