Division of Developmental Biology and Endocrinology: Poultry Section, Department of Zoology Faculty of Science, M.S. University of Baroda, Vadodara - 390 002.
* Corresponding author.
The effect of step down of photoperiod in RIR pullets from LD 18:6 (long photoperiod; LP) to LD 12:12 (Normal light dark cycle, NLD), on the first and second cycles of egg laying was studied. Birdswere reared under LP from day 1 till day 90 post-hatch, and thereafter maintained under a photoperiod of NLD as compared to birds reared continuous lyunder NLD. The LP group of hens with total number of eggs recorded being less in the fonner. However, LP hens recorded a much better average egg weight and rate of egg laying as compared to NLD hens. Overall, it is indicated that a step-down photoperiod may not have significant effect on the laying perfonnance but a favourable effect on the average egg weight and rate of lay.
Light, Photoschedule, RIR, egg
