TITLE : INVESTIGATING THE EFFECTS OF LIGHT TRESTRICTION ON THE

GROWTH RATE AND COST EFFECTIVENESS IN BROILER PRODUCTION DURING

THE FINISHING STAGE.
CHAPTER 1

1.1 INTRODUCTION

Broiler chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) are domesticated fowl bred, raised

specifically for meat production, broiler rearing is an important likelihood option and is a

survival strategy which helps in diversifying incomes, providing manure for crop

production(Poultry guide 2012). Broiler production is a small enterprise; however it

requires a lot of planning and sequential routines for achieving better profits.

Light is an important management tool in broiler production if used successfully, it can

influence aspects such as growth, productivity and behaviour. Avian species respond to

light energy in a variety of ways, the value of regulating the photoperiod of poultry has

been done to stimulate reproduction and light has three major functions which are a) to

facilitate sight b) to stimulate internal cycles due to day length changes and c) to initiate

hormone release. With reference to Scheiler (1990) lighting can be classified in three

ways thus wavelength, intensity and duration and each have its own characteristics and

applicability to reared chickens.

This study is being carried out mainly focusing on the small scale producers especially in

rural areas were resources are scarce, light controlling will reduce production cost by

lowering the electric charges and also saves feed since more lighting will lead to more

feed intake resulting in accumulation of fats, increase in body weight which will cause

death amongst the chicken due to heart failure.

1.2 JUSTIFICATION

With high cost of electricity, feed cost, attention has been shifted towards controlling the

lighting programme of the broilers. Alteration in lighting regime will reduce production

costs of raising broilers, also feed efficiency is controlled, and the broilers will not

overfeed. Light is an important aspect in production and can be controlled so as to ensure

optimum production, researches aired out that darkness is important to the health and

growth of birds as is light. Birds with sufficient dark periods will have fewer health

related problems, including sudden death and spiking mortality.

The research is done to investigate the effects of light restriction on growth rate and cost

effectiveness of broilers from 3 weeks up to 6 weeks so as to help farmers reduce

production cost at the same time maximising production.

1.3 HYPOTHESIS

1. Lighting has an effect on the growth rate and feed intake of broilers.

2. Lighting has no effect on growth rate and feed intake of broilers.

1.4 MAIN OBJECTIVE

To find out the effects of controlled lighting on growth rate and feed intake of broilers.

1.5 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE

1. To find out the effects of light on the growth rate of broilers.

2. To investigate the effects of light on feed intake of broilers.

CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW

Poultry production plays a very important role in the country’s economy by self-sustaining,

employment creation and contributes to an increase in the national earnings. Poultry

production is done under both large and small scale, for it provides the country with protein

enriched white meat and also increase food security in the country.

A study has been carried out on effects of different light regimes on performance of broilers

on performance of broilers on weight gain from 3rd week to the 6th week of age under a0

continuous light b) an intermittent system of 1 hour light and 2 hours darkness at night with

11hours of continuous light during the day c) an intermittent system of 1 hour light, 3 hours

darkness at night with 11 hours of continuous light during the day. The intermittent lighting

caused a significant increase in the average weight gain as compared to continuous light. The

weight gain in intermittent lighting for 1 hour and 3 hours darkness was significantly better

than those of the continuous light and light for 1 hour and 2 hours darkness. Feed

consumption of intermittent light for both groups 2 and 3 was less than continuous light but

feed conversation ratio of intermittent light of groups 2 and 3 was significantly better than

continuous light (Hoopaw, PD et al 1972).

According to Campo and Davila (2002), continuous light programs induce sleep deprivation

and causes severe physiological stress responses and they explained that restricting light

regimes improve productivity because physical activity is very low during darkness and

expenditure of activity is considerable. They also reveal that controlling lighting will also

reduce cannibalism; it also saves feed and these researchers indicated that continuous lighting

may affect body weight, immune response, livability, and health status and broiler behaviour.
Another experiment was conducted over 42day period to determine the effect of light

restriction on performance; two light treatments studied were 23hour light: 1 hour dark

(control) and 12 hours: 12hours’ dark (restricted). Measurements taken were body weight,

feed conversion and livability and results from this experiment showed that light restriction

significantly decreased body weight but significantly improved feed conversion (Beane, WL

et al 1979).

CHAPTER 3

METHODOLOGY

MATERIALS

 3 brooders

 Bedding grass (deep litter)

 3 waterers

 3 feeders

 3 lights

 5m polythene, black plastic

METHODOLOGY

The research will be done at Shamva Agricultural College, the experiment will be done under

the animal section, 3 weeks old broilers are going to be used to investigate effects of light

restriction on growth rate and cost effectiveness. The first brooder will have lighting for 24

hours, the second will have a controlled lighting of 8 hours light and 16 hours darkness and

the last one will have 6 hours light and 18 hours darkness. Weighing of birds will be done on

weekly until 6 weeks to see if the birds gaining or losing weight during the period of

controlled lighting and dark hours.