Effect of different LED light colors on development of the reproductive system of quails

Abstract

Light duration, intensity and wavelength are critical environmental stimuli affecting physiology and growth rate of birds. The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effect of emitting diode lux color (LED) as a source of artificial lighting for quail. The study used 120 quails (Coturnix coturnix) distributed in a completely randomized design in 20 cages, with five treatments (LED red, white, Blue, green and yellow), with four repetitions of six birds each, totaling 20 experimental units. Production indices were evaluated weekly: feed intake (g/bird/day), average daily gain (g/bird/day), feed conversion (g/g) and carcass yield (%). For the biometrics analysis of the reproductive system, the length of the oviduct and the total number of ovarian follicles was measured. Using the computer software ASSISTANT, the data were submitted to analysis of variance and the differences compared with Tukey test 5% in case of a significant effect. The results of feed intake, daily weight gain, feed conversion and carcass yield did not differ (p>0.05) between treatments. No differences were found between the average size of the oviduct and between the total number of follicles (p>0.05). Different colors do not influence the early development of the reproductive system of the quails (Coturnix coturnix), showing that it is possible to use the LED lighting system, for quail production.