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Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD) - Call for papers!

The Effect of Photoperiod and Light Intensity on the Laying Performance of Coturnix Coturnix Japonica

(Thailand), Master of Science in Animal Science (University of the Philippines Los Baños)

Thesis Abstract:

The study evaluated the effect of the duration of lighted periods minimum as the normal day length (NDL, approximately 12 hrs as minimum) compared with varying lengths of additional hours of artificial light as in: NDL + 2 hrs, NDL + 4 hrs, NDL + 8 hrs, and NDL + 12 hrs. The length of each additional lighting time was also tested using varying light intensities: 5.38 lux, 10.76 lux, and 21.52 lux (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 foot candles). The performance of the quails subjected to the treatments and the degree of interaction between light duration and intensity level were studied.

Results showed highly significant (P<0.01) differences among lighting treatments with regard to egg production, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio (FCR), body weight of female quails, age at sexual maturity, fertility, body weight of day-old quails, and bareback condition. There were no significant difference in terms of light intensity and interaction effects between photoperiod and light intensity for these parameters exceot in the bareback condition. There were no significant (P>0.05) differences among treatments in terms of egg weight, body weight of male quails, mortality, and hatchability as affected by light duration, light intensity, and interaction effects.

The control (NDL) birds showed the lowest egg production, feed consumption, body weight, body weight of day-old quails, egg weight, and mortality. Also, the control (NDL) was poorest in terms of FCR. It also had the smallest area of bareback condition and was the oldest at sexual maturity.

The hatchability and fertility of quail eggs in the control treatment (NDL) was as good as those which were given additional artificial light. Light duration and intensity did not influence the oviposition time of quails in this experiment.