Effect of intermittent lighting on energy savings and semen characteristics of breeder tom turkeys.
Large White breeder toms were exposed to one of the following light treatments at 34 weeks of age: 1) 15L:9D (control); 2) 2L:11D:4L:7D; 3) 4L:9D:4L:7D; 4) 2L:11D:2L:9D. After 4, 8, 12, and 18 weeks of exposure to these intermittent light treatments, body weight, feed consumption, and semen quality and quantity were determined. Although they maintain similar body weights, toms on intermittent light consumed less feed, produced equivalent semen volumes with similar sperm numbers, and maintained percent normal sperm more persistently during the summer heat than control toms. Compared to the 15L:9D controls, electrical savings for light as great as 73% was calculated for intermittent light. It was concluded that toms can be maintained more efficiently on intermittent lighting than a standard lighting program of 15 hr of light per day.
D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature; D001835:Body Weight; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D008029:Lighting; D008297:Male; D012007:Rectum; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology*; D012881:Skin Temperature; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology; D014422:Turkeys / Q000502:physiology*