Effects of lighting programs on the eggs production of quails (Coturnix coturnix)

To evaluate the effect of continuous and intermittent lighting programms on the production and quality of eggs of quails (Coturnix coturnix) rearing in open shelter. The experiment was conducted at Animal Science Department of UFLA - Lavras - MG - Brazil, with 720 quails 36 weeks of age, during 5 periods of 28 days each. They were submitted at completely randomized design with three light programs with restrictions in the treatments and 12 replications. The continuous program (medium photoperiod of 15:30 (natural + artificial) and main night (escotoperiod) of 8:30 (+/- 12 min)); the intermittent one program (intermittent lighting with two fractional photophases in 15:30 and main night of 8:30 (+/- 12 min)); the intermittent two programms had intermittent lighting with three photophases in a period stimulatory of 15: 30 (two photophases and two halfway escotophases among the natural light) and escotoperiod of 8:30. The feed intake was evaluated (g/quail/day), egg production (egg/quail/day x 100), weigh and mass eggs (g), feed conversion expresses as egg weight (g/g) and for dozen of eggs. The means were compared in the SNK tests (5%). The results of the quails production in the different programms showed similar (P>0,05) for hatching, weight, mass of the feed conversion/dozen. The quails in the intermittent program one showed smaller (P<0,05) feed intake and better (P<0,05) feed conversion/weight eggs in relation to the quails in the others programms. The use of programms of intermittent lighting in quails rearing at open shelter, starting from to 36th week of age, it reduces the time of artificial lighting without affecting the egg production, weight eggs, mass eggs and feed conversion/dozen of eggs; however the feed intake was lower and the feed conversion/weight eggs was improved with the intermittent program one.