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Effects of Incubation Light on Behaviour, Growth Performance, Blood Parameters, and Digestive Enzymes in Post-Hatch
Peng Yin1, Siqi Wei1, Qin Tong1,2,3
1Department of Agricultural Structure and Environmental Engineering, College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China.
Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI
|August 10, 2024
Summary
Incubation light affects chick development. White light during incubation improved growth and adaptability in post-hatch chicks, while blue light reduced thymus weight. Digestive enzyme activity was also impacted.
Area of Science:
- Avian Science
- Animal Physiology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Prenatal light exposure can influence post-hatch development in poultry.
- Understanding the impact of different light wavelengths during incubation is crucial for optimizing chick health and performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of white, blue, green, and dark incubation light on post-hatch chick growth, organ development, immune response, stress hormones, digestive enzymes, and behavior.
- To determine the optimal light conditions during incubation for enhancing chick performance and adaptability.
Main Methods:
- Sixty chicks per light treatment (white, blue, green, dark) were used across three batches.
- Growth performance, organ weights, immune indicators (IgA, IgY, IgM, H/L ratio), plasma corticosterone, digestive enzyme activities (jejunum amylase, ileum lipase), and feed/water access were assessed from 1-42 days post-hatch.
Main Results:
- White light incubation resulted in a significant growth advantage (p < 0.05).
- Blue light incubation led to reduced thymus weight (p < 0.05).
- Incubation light significantly affected jejunum amylase and ileum lipase activities (p < 0.01) and influenced plasma corticosterone levels, suggesting improved stress coping.
Conclusions:
- Incubation light, particularly white light, can positively impact post-hatch chick growth and environmental adaptability.
- Specific light wavelengths during incubation influence organ development and digestive enzyme activity, highlighting the importance of prenatal light manipulation.
