[Effect of fluorescent lighting on the growth of broiler chickens]

The effect was followed up of green luminiscent light on the growth rate of broiler chickens. The experiments were carried out in a climatic chambers of the Zootron type with a total of 400 day-old chicks kept continuously under such light, which had permanent intensity. In one of the chambers the light was produced by means of a red hot wire, and in the other--through green illumination devices. Within the experimental period of 56 days the chicks were studied in terms of their hematologic and biochemical blood composition (hematocrit, erythrocyte count, total serum protein, liver glycogen, muscle glycogen, carotene, A and E vitamins). Investigated were also the blood sugar and lactic acid levels, and the activity of aldolase, glucose-6-phosphate, succindehydrogenase. It was found that green luminescent light influenced positively the weight gain (3.5%) at lower feed intake as against broilers raised under ordinary light of the same intensity. Certain changes were observed also with regard to the hematological and biochemical indices of the blood of birds belonging to the two groups.