Daylight exposure and circadian clocks in broilers: part I—photoperiod effect on broiler behavior, skeletal health, and fear response

The aim of this study was to examine effects of various daylight exposure during the 24-h light-dark (L-D) cycle on growth performance, skeletal health, and welfare state in broilers. Environmental photoperiod and related circadian clock, the 24-h L-D cycle, are important factors in maintaining productive performance, pathophysiological homeostasis, and psychological reaction in humans and animals. Currently, various lighting programs as management tools for providing a satisfactory environmental condition have been used in commercial broiler production. Four hundred thirty-two 1-day-old Rose 308 broiler chicks were assigned to 24 pens (18 birds/pen). The pens were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 thermal and lighting control rooms, then the birds were exposed to (n = 6): 1) 12L, 2) 16L, 3) 18L, or 4) 20L at 15 d of age. Lighting program effects on bird body weight, behavioral patterns, bone health, and stress levels were evaluated from d 35 to d 45, respectively. The birds of 12L as well as 16L groups, reared under short photoperiods close to the natural 24-h L-D cycle, had improved production performance, leg bone health, and suppressed stress reaction compared to the birds of both 18L and 20L groups. Especially, 12L birds had heavier final body weight and averaged daily weight gain (P < 0.05), higher BMD and BMC with longer and wider femur (P < 0.05), lower H/L ratio (P < 0.05), and more birds reached the observer during the touch test (P < 0.05) but spent shorter latency during the tonic immobility test (P < 0.05). Taken together, the data suggest that supplying 12 h as well as 16L of daily light improves performance and health while decreasing stress levels in broilers, making it a potentially suitable approach for broiler production.