Photostimulation decreases fearfulness, but improves growth performance and egg quality of breeder Pekin ducks

No SJR dataNov 28, 2024Poultry science

Light stimulation reduces fear and improves growth and egg quality in breeder Pekin ducks

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Abstract

Pekin ducks under a progressive photoperiod (PS) showed higher bodyweight at weeks 5 and 10 compared to those exposed to 24 hours of constant light.

Drakes' bodyweight was significantly higher in the PS group than in the 24h treatment at weeks 5 and 10.
No significant differences were found in feed conversion ratio, fertility, or welfare scores between the two lighting treatments.
The PS group exhibited a lower fear response at weeks 5 and 10, indicating potentially improved welfare.
While the 24h treatment resulted in a higher percentage of eggs laid during weeks 23 to 25, the PS group produced heavier eggs and better egg quality metrics.
Egg weight, yolk weight, Haugh unit, and shell weight were all significantly improved in the PS group compared to the 24h treatment.

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Lighting is a critical environmental factor that influences production performance and welfare of poultry, however Pekin ducks can typically be housed under 24 h (24 h) of light. 460 hatchlings were randomly allocated to 4 rooms with two pens in each room. The rooms were allocated to 24 h light or PS. PS was achieved by gradually increasing photoperiod by half an hour per week from days 112 to 238 and held at 18 h light for the rest of life. Prior to the onset of lay, pens were organized with 30 hens and 7 drakes/pen (4 pens/treatment). We measured bodyweight at weeks 0, 1, 2, 5, 10, 19, and 29, feed intake at weeks 1 to 7 and feed conversion ratio (FCR) was calculated for weeks 1, 2, and 5. Eggs laid were recorded daily from weeks 20 to 31. Novel object test (NOT) was done at weeks 1, 5, 10, 19, and 29, transect welfare scoring at week 30, egg quality assessment at weeks 28 and 29, and fertility was determined at weeks 28 and 29. Statistical analyses were done using 2-way ANOVA, T-test, or Friedman Test with a Tukey-Kramer test as post-hoc. A p ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Drakes bodyweight was higher in the PS compared to 24h treatment at weeks 5 (p < 0.01) and 10 (p < 0.001). No difference was observed in FCR, fertility, or transect data. NOT showed lower fear response (p < 0.05) at weeks 5 and 10 in the PS compared to 24 h treatment. The 24 h treatment increased the percent eggs laid at weeks 23 (p < 0.05), 24 (p < 0.01) and 25 (p < 0.05) compared to the PS. However, there was a higher egg weight (p < 0.001), yolk weight (p < 0.05), Haugh unit (p < 0.05), and shell weight (p = 0.05) in the PS compared to 24 h treatment. Our findings support that PS may help decrease fearfulness, improve growth performance and egg quality of breeder ducks.

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