Recycling turkey hens with low light intensity.

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Poultry Husbandry
• Reproductive Physiology

Background:

• Turkey breeder hens are often recycled for a second egg production cycle to maximize reproductive efficiency.
• Photorefractoriness, a state of reproductive quiescence, must be overcome for successful recycling.
• Light intensity is a critical environmental factor influencing reproductive cycles in poultry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of varying low light intensities on the successful recycling of yearling turkey breeder hens.
• To determine the minimum light intensity required to terminate photorefractoriness and initiate a second egg production cycle.

Main Methods:

• Yearling turkey hens were subjected to 8-week recycling treatments with 16 hours of light per day at intensities of 0.5, 2.2, 4.3, or 7.6 lux.
• Control hens were maintained under a short day length (6L:18D) at 55 lux.
• Following treatment, all hens were photostimulated (16L:8D, 55 lux) to assess time to first egg and egg production rate.

Main Results:

• Only the 0.5 lux light intensity treatment successfully terminated photorefractoriness, leading to egg production comparable to controls.
• Light intensities of 2.2, 4.3, and 7.6 lux resulted in significantly reduced egg production.
• Higher light intensities failed to induce reproductive recrudescence in turkey breeder hens.

Conclusions:

• A very low light intensity of 0.5 lux is effective for recycling turkey breeder hens into a second egg production cycle.
• Light intensities of 2.2 lux or greater are insufficient for successful recycling and can negatively impact egg production.
• Precise control of light intensity is crucial for managing reproductive cycles in commercial turkey breeding programs.