title: Effects of stocking density, light and perches on broiler growth.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of stocking density, light intensity and light color on broiler growth. The experiment consisted of four 35-day phases during each of which 320 chickens were surveyed. The research was performed at stocking densities of four and six birds/m2. Illuminances of 15 and 30 lx were obtained through commercial lamps with 4000 K and 6000 K color temperatures. Lighting was used 17 h a day, between 06.00 and 23.00 hours (17 L:7 D). The results showed a decrease in body, carcass, breast and thighs weight (P < 0.05) with the increase in stocking density. Body weight decreased by 10.5% and carcass weight decreased by 9.4% at six birds/m2stocking density. Contrastingly, no differences were found for the tested light colors. Increasing illuminance from 15 to 30 lx caused a 1.9% decrease in body weight. The analysis of the effect of perches revealed that using perches significantly increased body (2.5%) and breast weight (11.8%). The interactions between light intensity or color and stocking density and between light intensity and light color were analyzed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agroforestry Engineering, Higher Polytechnic School, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain.
authors.forename: Ramón
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Velo
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain.
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ceular
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development*; D003116:Color; D006799:Housing, Animal; D008027:Light; D008029:Lighting / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011156:Population Density; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: broiler; illuminance; light color; perch; stocking density