The influence of the duration of the “subjective day” under intermittent LED lighting on the daily rhythm of oviposition and the productivity of hens

Abstract

Abstract Lighting is the key factor affecting oviposition time. The oviposition time is directly related to ovulation, which occurs 5 hours after reaching the peak concentration of luteinizing hormone in the blood, which depends on the lighting regime. This paper studies the impact of the “subjective day” duration under intermittent LED lighting on the daily rhythm of oviposition and the productivity of hens of the productive flocks of cross SP-789. The “subjective day” lasted 16 hours per day for group 1, 15 h for group 2, 14 h for group 3 and 13 h for group 4. It was established that the shorter the duration of the “subjective day”, the earlier the hens begin and finish laying. So, in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, hens began laying eggs at 4 a.m., 3 a.m., 2 a.m., and 1 a.m. and ended at 6 p.m., 4 p.m., 4 p.m., and 3 p.m. with an average time of laying eggs of 8.67; 7.36; 5.36 and 5.27 h, respectively. In groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 the livability of hens, weight of eggs, egg production and yield of egg weight per the initial laying hen, feed consumption for 10 eggs and 1 kg of egg weight were 98.0, 97.0, 99.0, 99.0%; 60.0, 59.9, 60.4, 59.7 g; 123.9, 124.1, 130.3, 126.1 pcs, 7.48, 7.47, 7.97, 7.63 kg; 1.37, 1.36, 1.32, 1.36, and 2.28, 2.26, 2.18, 2.26 kg, respectively.