Evaluation of lightning programs upon the performance of white egg layers

This experiment was conducted with objective to evaluate the effect of lighting programs for light at the Department of Animal Science of the Federal University of Lavras. An intermittent lighting program and another with only natural lighting on days of increasing lighting as compared with a continuous program by utilizing 288 light layers were tested. The hens were keept in a house divided into three environments in such a way the lighting of one did not interfere with that of the other one. The experimental period lasted 112 days, divided into four periods of 28 days. The design utilized was the completely randomized with restriction in the treatments and eight replicates. The means of the treatments were compared with the SNK test (5%). The hens of the continuous lighting program presented greater feed intake (P<0.05) and worse feed conversion whereas those of the natural light program, greater egg yield. The hens in the intermittent lighting program showed better viability (P<0.05). In conclusion the intermittent lighting programs and only natural lighting on days of increasing lighting for light layers in the late production should be used in open houses in order to increase the hens production.