The effects of different monochromatic lighting applications during rearing period on the growth and slaughter-carcass characteristics in japanese quail

The aim of this study is to determine the effects of white (400–760 nm), green (560 nm), yellow (580 nm), blue (480 nm) and red (660 nm) monochromatic lighting on some performance, behaviour, and fear responses in Japanese quails throughout the fattening period. The animal material of the study consisted of a total of 300 quail chicks, which were randomly mated and obtained simultaneously from a previously unselected parent flock. Wing numbers were assigned to one-day-old chicks randomly allocated to each experimental group, and measurements of all the examined characteristics were made individually. In the study, multi-floor brooder and fattening cages, isolated from light reflection, with adjustable LED lighting apparatus on each floor, were used. In the study, weekly live weights were measured weekly from hatch to 6 weeks of age. Tonic immobility tests and general behavioural characteristics were determined when quails were 5 weeks old. When the quails were six weeks old, routine slaughtering processes were carried out and slaughter-carcass traits were determined, as well as symmetrical measurements of bilateral characteristics. In terms of live weight values of Japanese quails that were treated with different wavelengths of lighting during the rearing period, the mean of the experimental groups that were treated with blue, green, and yellow light were found to be higher than those illuminated with white and red wavelengths (P<0.05). As a result of the analysis of the growth samples of the quails in the experimental groups with the Gompertz growth model, it was determined that the averages of the quails treated with green and blue monochromatic lighting were higher in terms of mature weight parameter and inflection point weight of the Gompertz growth curve (P<0.05). In the study, quails in the experimental group that received green monochromatic lighting were found to have higher liveability than those in the other groups (P<0.05). Although the slaughter weight of quails treated with yellow monochromatic lighting was found to be similar to those in the groups treated with green and blue monochromatic lighting, the best results in terms of liveability, fear responses and general behavioural characteristics were obtained from quails treated with green and blue monochromatic lighting. A similar situation was also observed in bilateral symmetry types, and when the face, wing, femur, and fibula lengths of the quails with green monochromatic lighting were evaluated, it was determined that all of the detected symmetry types were fluctuating asymmetry. The most unfavourable results in terms of bilateral symmetrical traits were found in quails exposed to red monochromatic lighting, and the asymmetrical type was determined for three of the four bilateral characters. The difference between the experimental groups in terms of carcass weights was similar to the body weight averages at the end of fattening period, the mean values of carcass weights of green, blue and yellow monochromatic lighting groups were found to be higher than those in the other experimental groups (P<0.05). In addition, the best results in terms of carcass yields of quails were obtained from the green and blue monochromatic lighting groups (P<0.05). As a result, it is thought that the application of green or blue monochromatic lighting programs during the rearing period of Japanese quails may provide economic benefits to the producers.