EFFECTS OF MELATONIN SUPPLEMENTATION ON CARCASS YIELD OF BROILER CHICKENS SUBJECTED TO DIFFERENT LIGHTING REGIMENS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.7676Keywords:
Broiler chickens, melatonin, photoperiods, carcass and continuous lightingAbstract
The study aimed to determine the impact of continuous lighting on the carcass yield of broiler chickens,
administered with melatonin. Broiler chicks were assigned randomly into three groups, comprising 100
chicks each. Group I was raised under natural photoperiod of 12-h light and 12-h darkness, without
melatonin supplementation. Group II was kept under 24-h continuous lighting, without melatonin
supplementation. Group III was raised under 24-h continuous lighting, with melatonin supplementation (0.5
mg/kg per os) via drinking water. Melatonin was administered once daily for 42 consecutive days at 17:00
h. At day 42, ten broilers per group that represented the average body weight were selected, slaughtered
and processed to determine the yield of carcass parts. The data on carcass characteristics showed significant (P < 0.001) differences between the groups, especially in carcass, breast plate, thigh and live weights. The melatonin-treated group consistently ranked highest for each of the carcass parameters of broiler chicken. The liver weights of 38.70 ± 2.14 g and 42.40 ± 1.63 g obtained from groups III (CL + MEL) and II (CL), respectively were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than 32.90 ± 1.42 g, recorded in group I subjected to 12D:12L cycle. The highest dry feather weight of 37.10 ± 1.46 g was recorded in group III reared on CL and administered with melatonin. In conclusion, melatonin supplementation enhanced growth and carcass yield in broiler chickens.
