Effect of different colours of light on performance of caged broilers

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of the broiler\rchicken (body weight, feed intake and feed conversion ratio) at the fifth week of age. The\rbroiler chicks were weighed, leg banded and distributed randomly into four groups as\rtreatments, battery type iron cages, feeders, waters and other equipments were thoroughly\rcleaned disinfected, dried, sterilized by blow torch and finally fumigated by use of mixture of\rKMnO4 (potassium permanganates) and formaldehyde before use. The chicks were fed ad\rlibitum with standard starter ration containing CP: 22 per cent and ME:2900 k.cal./kg feed\rupto 3 weeks age and then after broiler finisher ration with CP: 19 per cent and ME: 3000 k.cal./\rkg feed upto 5 weeks age. The broiler chicks of all groups were kept under similar management\rpractices except lighting regimes as per treatment upto five (5) weeks age in battery type iron\rcages in laboratory. It is concluded colours of light did not show any significant effect on\rfeed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) in broilers. The colour of light has a significant\reffect on the weight gain at the fifth week of age. The milky white and yellow colours of light\rare effective to obtain higher weekly body weight at five weeks age of caged broilers.