Quantifying Additivity Between Lighting Schedules and Feed Form on Broiler Metabolic Efficiency

Abstract

Experiments were conducted with broilers (Cobbs 500) to quantify the interactive value of lighting and feed form on bird metabolic efficiency. In the grower phase, broilers perform better in continuous light than restricted light, and with pellets than mash diet. During the finisher phase broilers offered restricted lighting performed better. Similar to the grower phase broilers fed pellets performanced greater than those that received mash. Birds in restrict light that consumed pellets were more efficient as they had a higher cumulative feed efficiency, lower heat loss and less metabolizable energy need per gram of body weight gain. The improvement in efficiency with light restriction was presumably due to reduced bird activity when housed in the dark. From a consumer stand point it is better that broilers be fed mash with restricted light because it made them leaner. But it is more economical for producers to feed pellets in restricted light.