14. Influence of photoperiod and light intensity on egg performance of Japanese quails

Abstract

The study was conducted to observe the influence of photoperiod and light intensity (LI) on egg production of Japanese quails. A total of one hundred (n=100) quails were divided into five groups (A1,A2, B1, B2 and C) according to the regime of light intensity and photoperiod during growing period (GP) and laying period (LP) i.e. A₁ kept at LI (80 luxes (GP) for 8 hrs. and 240 luxes (LP) for 16 hrs.), A₂ kept at LI (20 luxes (GP) for 8hrs. and 60 luxes (LP) for 16 hrs.), B₁ kept at 5 luxes (GP) for 16 hrs and 15 luxes (LP) for 20hrs, B₂ kept at 5 luxes for 12hrs. (GP) and 15 luxes for 18hrs (LP). The group C was considered as control. The Quails of group B₁ produced highest egg production (70.25%), hen day egg production (73.62%) and egg width (25.12 mm) as compared to other groups. FCR (1.23) and egg weight (11.20 g) was better in group B₁ among all the groups (p>0.005). Higher egg size was recorded in the group A₁ (32.15 mm) and lower in group C (30.12 mm). The egg weight was highest (p>0.05) in the group B₁ (11.20 g) and lowest in group A₁ (9.00 g). It was concluded that, better FCR and feed intake was observed at LI (80 luxes (GP) for 8 hrs. and 240 luxes (LP) for 16 hrs, respectively and photoperiod 16 hrs. at 5 luxes during laying period and 20 hrs. at 15 luxes during laying period.

Keywords: Egg Production; Light Intensity; Photoperiod; Quail

http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2018.700150