Effect of Lighting Regime and Handling Frequency on the Performance and Immune Response of Broiler Chickens

A total of 300 broiler chicks were used to determine the effect of lighting regime and frequency of handling on the performance and immune response of broiler chickens. After one week of brooding under continuous artificial lighting at 200 lux, the chicks were randomly assigned to four treatments in a 2x2 factorial in CRD. Main factors were frequency of handling (weekly: 6x during rearing vs bi-weekly: 3x during rearing) and lighting regime (continuous: 3L:ID vs intermittent: 1L:3D). Each treatment was replicated five times with 15 birds per replicate. Results showed that handling frequency and lighting regime had no significant interaction on all the performance parameters measured. Broilers subjected to less frequent handling and reared under intermittent lighting regime had better live weight gains and feed efficiency compared to broilers that were less frequently handled and under continuous lighting. Dressing percentage of the birds in the different treatment combinations did not significantly differ. Income over feed and chick cost was highest for the birds subjected to less handling and intermittent lighting and was lowest for those handled frequently and raised under continuous lighting. Likewise, birds handled more frequently and reared under continuous lighting were less immuno-responsive than those subjected to less handling and intermittent light. The results indicated that alternate lighting regime (lL:3D) reduced lighting cost by 50%.