The effects of lighting type (Light-emitting diode and compact fluorescent) and cage position on production performance, egg quality, some welfare traits of laying hens reared in enriched cage system

In this study, it was aimed to determine the effects of LED and Compact Fluorescent (FLO) lighting and cage position on production performance, egg quality and some welfare traits of laying hens reared in enriched cage system. A total of 800 16-week-old Nick Chick white layer hybrids were used in the study. The salable egg number, damaged (broken and cracked) egg number, shelless and dirty shelled egg number, the reaching day age of 5%, 50% and peak egg production, hen-day and hen-house egg production and mortality followed on daily basis; egg mass, feed consumption and feed conversion ratio followed on a weekly basis up to 45 weeks of age. A total of 1200 eggs were examined for determine the external and internal egg quality at 25, 35 and 45 weeks of age. A total of 400 layer observed for body feather score, body and comb wound, bumble foot and footpad dermatitis, beak damage, keelbone deformity, toe damage, aggressive pecking and avoidance distance (KMT) at 25 and 45 wks of age. At the end of the study, a total 80 layer used for determine tonic immobility (TI) duration and induction number. The dust accumulation rate (TBO I and TBO II) was determined to determine the activity of chickens under different lighting sources at 25, 35 and 45 weeks of age. The light intensity was found to be 4,41 lux higher in the FLO group than the LED group at 45 weeks of age (P<0,01). The highest egg mass (P<0,01), dirty egg ratio, hen-day egg production ratio (P<0,01) and hen-house egg production ratio were found in the FLO group at 25 weeks of age (P<0,05). The highest dust accumulation rate (TBO I, II) was determined in the FLO group at 35 and 45 weeks of age (P<0,05). The egg weight, shell thickness, yolk weight were found higher and shell ratio, yolk colour (P<0,01) were found lower in the FLO group at 25 weeks of age (P<0,05). The FLO group had more ideal shape index, albumin height and Haugh Unit were higher in FLO group than LED group at 35th week of age (P <0,01). The shell thickness was found thicker in the FLO group than LED group at 45th weeks of age (P <0,01). The worst comb wound, bumble foot and highest avoidance distance (KMT) were found in FLO group at 25th week of age (P<0,05). The worst body feather score, comb wound (P<0,01), toe damage and the more aggressive pecking (P<0,01) were found in FLO group than LED group at 45th weeks of age (P<0,05). In the study, the hens placed at II and IV floor (top) were reached age of 5% egg production rate earlier than the others (P <0,05). The earliest 50% egg production rate age was found in IV cage floor's hens (P <0,01). The egg mass, hen-day egg production rate, hen-house egg production rate, feed conversion ratio (P<0,01), dirty shelled egg ratio, shell ratio at 25th weeks of age; egg shape index, albumin height (P <0,01), haugh unit (P <0,01) at 35th weeks of age; egg shape index, yolk weight, comb wound and foot ped dermatitis at 45th weeks of age were significantly affected by cage position (P <0,05). The effect of different cage position on body weight (P <0,01), breast and vent feather score, total and average body feather score, comb wound, foot ped dermatitis of hens were found statistically significant at 45th weeks of age (P<0,05). The effect of different cage position on KMT was found significant at 25th and 45th weeks of age period (P <0,01). The interactions between lighting type and cage position on albumen weight, KMT at 25th weeks of age; egg weight (P<0,05), albumen height, haugh unit, yolk color (P<0,01) at 35th week; and dirty shelled egg ratio, foot ped dermatitis (P<0,05), toe damage at 45 week of age were found statistically significant (P <0,01).