Author : Chamnian Yosraj

Summary : The study evaluated the effect of the duration of lighted periods minimum as the normal day length (NDL, approximately 12 hrs. as minimum) compared with varying lengths of additional hours of artificial light as in: NDL + 2 hrs., NDL + 4 hrs., NDL + 8 hrs., and NDL + 12 hrs. The length of each additional lighting time was also tried using varying light intensities: 5.38 lux, 10.76 lux, and 21.52 lux (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 foot candles). The performance of the quails subjected to the treatments and the degree of interaction between light duration and intensity level were studied. Results showed highly significant (P<0.01) differences among lighting treatments with regard to egg production, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio (FCR), body weight of female quails, age at sexual maturity, fertility, body weight of day-old quails, and bareback condition. There were no significant differences in terms of light intensity and interaction effects between photoperiod and light intensity for these parameters except in the bareback condition. There was no significant (P>0.05) differences among treatments in terms of egg weight, body weight of male quails, mortality, hatchability as affected by light duration, light intensity, and interaction effects. The control (NDL) birds showed the lowest egg production, feed consumption, body weight, body weight of day-old quails, egg weight and mortality. Also, the control (NDL) was poorest in FCR, had the smallest area of bareback condition, and was oldest in age at sexual maturity. The hatchability and fertility of quail eggs in the control treatment (NDL) was as good as those which were given additional artificial light. Light duration and intensity did not influence the oviposition time of quails in this experiment.