The effects of light intensity (L) are not well studied in pullets. Our research objective was to study the effect of L on navigational success, behavior, and welfare of two pullet strains (S). In two repeated trials, a 3 × 2 × 4 factorial arrangement tested three L (10, 30, 50 lux) and two S (Lohmann Brown-Lite (LB), LSL-Lite (LW)) at four ages. One thousand eight hundred pullets/S (0–16 wk) were randomly assigned to floor pens within light-tight rooms (three pens/S/room, four rooms/L) containing four parallel perches and a ramp. Data collection included jumping frequency and success (24h continuous sampling), novel object tests (fear), heterophil to lymphocyte (H/L) ratios (stress), and behavior (instantaneous scan sampling) during photoperiods. L did not affect injurious behavior, fear, or H/L. Pullets reared at 50 lux spent more time preening than at 10 lux. Pullets reared at 10 lux spent more time wall pecking than at 50 lux. Time spent standing and preening and total number and accuracy of jumping increased with age. Pullets reared at 30 lux had higher jumping frequency than at 10 lux; accuracy was not affected. LW jumped more than LB, but with similar success. LB spent more time exploring and scored higher in the fear and stress assessments, suggesting S differences.

This study aimed to determine the effects of dietary ME and BW restriction on layer pullet sexual maturation, carcass composition and reproductive organs. Two trials were conducted: a precision feeding (PF) (Experiment 1) and a conventional (CON) experiment (Experiment 2). Experiment 1 was a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement with two feed allocation (FA) levels: meal every visit (MEV) or restricted to the lower limit of Lohmann Brown-Lite recommended BW; and three dietary ME levels: Low, Standard (Std), and High (2,600, 2,800, and 3,000 kcal/kg, respectively); the fourth treatment enabled birds to choose from the three diets (Choice). Experiment 2 was a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement with two FA levels: ad libitum or restricted to the lower limit of the strain recommended BW; and three dietary ME levels: Low, Std, and High. In Experiment 1, age at first egg (AFE), BW at first egg (BWFE), and carcass composition estimations were recorded. In Experiment 2, age at 50 % of egg production (A50), BW at 50 % of egg production (BW50), and chemical carcass composition were determined. Weight of reproductive organs were measured only in Experiment 2. Data were submitted to ANOVA on each experiment with the two main effects and age as fixed factors. Differences were reported where P ≤ 0.05. The BWFE and BW50 were greater in the MEV- and ad libitum-fed compared to the feed restricted birds in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. Carcass lean and fat percentage were greater and lower in the feed restricted compared to the MEV- and ad libitum-fed pullets at 20 and 18 wk of age, respectively. Carcass fat percentage around photostimulation age (18 and 20 wk) was greater in the High ME compared to the Low ME fed pullets. Large yellow follicles (number and weight) and ovary (weight and percentage) were greater in ad libitum-fed compared to feed restricted birds. In conclusion, pullets fed greater dietary ME increased fat deposition and feed restricted birds had delayed sexual maturation.

This study aimed to determine the effects of dietary energy and body-weight (BW) restriction on layer pullets’ growth, uniformity, and feed efficiency. Two experiments were conducted using a precision feeding (PF) system (Experiment 1) and a conventional feeding (CON) system (Experiment 2). Experiment 1 consisted of a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement (eight treatments) with two feed allocation (FA) levels: meal every visit (MEV) or restricted to the lower boundary of Lohmann Brown-Lite pullets; and three dietary metabolizable energy (ME) levels: Low, Standard (Std), and High (2600, 2800, and 3000 kcal/kg, respectively); the fourth treatment enabled birds to choose from the three diets (Choice). Experiment 2 consisted of a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement (six treatments): two FA levels (ad libitum or restricted) and three dietary ME levels (Low, Std, and High). In each experiment, BW, coefficient of variation (CV), average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily metabolizable energy intake (MEI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were recorded. Diet ADFI preferences and feeding motivation were determined only in the PF experiment. ANOVA was conducted on each experiment with the two main effects as fixed factors (FA and dietary ME), and age or period as the sources of variation. Differences were reported at p ≤ 0.05. MEV (PF experiment) and ad libitum-fed (CON experiment) pullets had greater BW compared to restricted-fed pullets (p < 0.05). The lowest CV was observed in the restricted-fed pullets from the PF experiment (p < 0.05). ADFI was greater in pullets fed the Low ME diet in the PF experiment compared to all the other groups, and the lower the dietary ME, the greater the ADFI in the CON experiment (p < 0.05). Choice-feeding pullets preferred feed with greater ME content in the PF experiment (p < 0.05). The lower the dietary ME, the greater the FCR in the CON experiment (p < 0.05). Restricted-fed pullets had greater daily visits, and lower daily meals, meal size, and successful visits to the PF system (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the results of this trial indicated that lower dietary ME increased FCR and ADFI, whereas feed restriction decreased BW and increased feeding motivation. Future steps after this trial will include examining the effects of dietary energy and feed restriction on carcass composition and sexual maturation.

The impact of varying light intensities on layer pullets is not yet well understood. Behaviorally, brighter illumination may increase pullet activity levels by allowing better navigation in the complexity of non-cage systems. In addition, light intensity was previously demonstrated to affect the levels of calcium and phosphate regulating hormones in mice. The objective of this study was to examine how exposure of pullets to different light intensity affects their calcium and phosphorus homeostasis. Lohmann LSL-Lite and Lohmann Brown-Lite pullets were randomized into 4 individually controlled rooms with 6 pens per room, which were assigned to 10 or 50 lux light intensity supplied via white LED lighting during the photophase. After 8 and 16 wk of exposure, plasma calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium were measured by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry; and parathyroid hormone, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, fibroblast growth factor 23, and markers of bone formation and resorption were measured by ELISA. Intestine and kidney samples were collected at 16 wk and gene expression of receptors for calcium and phosphate regulating hormones was assessed. The data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. Lohmann Brown-Lite pullets exposed to 50 lux for 8 wk exhibited lower ionized Ca levels and a trend for increased bone formation markers compared to pullets reared in 10 lux. Thus, higher light intensity during rearing may beneficially affect calcium homeostasis and bone formation in young Lohmann Brown-Lite chicken.

The objective of this study was to develop appropriate correction equations for dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for total carcass composition of live meat- and egg-type chickens. Linear (bivariate linear and multivariate linear) and nonlinear (polynomial, multivariate polynomial, broken-line and Gompertz) equations were used to estimate carcass composition of DXA-scanned birds based on chemical proximate analysis. A total of 288 laying females (10-30 wk of age) and 305 broiler breeder females (4-32 wk of age) were used. The same birds scanned by DXA were dissected and utilized for whole-body proximate chemical analysis for body lean, fat, and mineral content (ash). As indicators of carcass fat and lean, abdominal fat pad and breast muscle weights were also recorded. Models were evaluated using root mean square error (RMSE), Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC), coefficient of determination (R²), Durbin Watson test for autocorrelation (DW), and residuals observation (RES). Model estimations were done separately by strain or combined. Estimations of composition responses fit at least 1 of each linear and nonlinear models for the egg- and meat-type chickens on all parameters estimated (P < 0.05). In the egg-type chickens, multivariate linear regression was the best fit for body lean with the lowest RMSE and BIC, and highest R² whereas body fat, body ash, and breast muscle were best predicted by the multivariate polynomial model. In the meat-type chickens, body lean was best predicted by the multivariate linear model with the lowest RMSE and BIC, and the highest R² whereas the multivariate polynomial was the most parsimonious model for body fat, body ash, and abdominal fat. Positive autocorrelations were observed in several models tested for body fat, body ash, breast muscle, and abdominal fat pad when both strains were analyzed combined (P < 0.05). In summary, a strain-based correction is recommended to all the parameters, with exception of the BW estimation. Correction equations developed in this study demonstrated that the DXA technique is a reliable alternative to proximate chemical analysis in egg- and meat-type chickens.

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