Photoperiod during incubation affects hatching performance, leg bone development and key gene expression in
1Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, PR China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding Hebei 071001, PR China.
Poultry Science
|December 23, 2025
Summary
Incubation photoperiod significantly impacts Beijing You Chicken leg bone development and hatching weight. The 8L:16D light cycle improved hatch weight, while the 12L:12D cycle enhanced leg quality and bone metabolism.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Photoperiod influences avian embryonic development and metabolism.
- Melanopsin-mediated pathways are crucial for light perception and physiological responses.
- Understanding incubation photoperiod effects is vital for optimizing poultry production and welfare.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of different incubation photoperiods on Beijing You Chicken (BYC) hatching performance.
- To analyze embryonic leg bone development, metabolism, and gene expression in the melanopsin-mediated PLC-PKC pathway.
- To determine the optimal incubation light conditions for improved chicken growth and leg quality.
Main Methods:
- 1,408 BYC eggs were divided into four groups: 8L:16D, 12L:12D, 16L:8D, and 24D (darkness).
- Embryonic leg bone development, metabolism (BAP, TRAP-5b, β-CTx, PTH), and gene expression (OPN4, PLCβ1, DGK, PKC, TRPC6/7) were assessed at multiple embryonic stages.
- Hatching performance and post-hatch gait scores were evaluated.
Main Results:
- The 8L:16D photoperiod increased hatch weight and enhanced embryonic leg bone length and width.
- The 12L:12D photoperiod improved tibia length, reduced gait scores (indicating better leg quality), and increased bone metabolism markers (BAP) and gene expression (PLCβ1, DGK, PKC, TRPC6/7).
- The 24D (darkness) group showed altered bone metabolism (higher TRAP-5b, β-CTx, PTH) and negative effects on leg development.
Conclusions:
- Incubation photoperiod significantly influences embryonic and post-hatch bone development and metabolism in BYC.
- The 8L:16D and 12L:12D photoperiods show promise for enhancing hatch weight and leg quality, respectively.
- The 12L:12D light cycle may optimize leg bone development and metabolism by modulating the melanopsin-mediated PLC-PKC pathway, potentially reducing osteoclast activity.
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