: A 3 x 2 factorial experiment was conducted to determine the performance of 180 Sasso broiler chicks exposed to three lighting regimes: continues light (24 CL), flashed+ continues light (12 FL : 12 CL), flashed light (24 FL): and two feeding regimes: continues feeding (24F: 0NF), intermittent feeding (6F: 6NF). Each group included three replicates with 10 birds /replicate. The obtained results indicated that intermittent feeding and flashed lighting regimes significantly (P≤0.05) affected body weight & gain, feed consumption & conversion ratios, some blood parameters, Heterophil/Lymphocyte ratio and body temperature values. However, it had insignificant (P>0.05) effect on most carcass traits, meat quality, bone measurements, plumage conditions and blood constitutes except liver and abdominal fat percentages and blood plasma AST or ALT values. From the achieved results and economic efficiency, it could be concluded that rearing Sasso broilers chicks under intermittent light (12 L: 12 D) with continues feed (24F: 0NF) or intermittent feed (6F: 6NF) improved growth performance and reduced abdominal fat without any adverse effects on physiological parameters or meat quality

The influence of using different cage floor and litter types on growth performance and carcass parameters was studied in 300 Japanese quail chicks from 14 to 56 day of age to alleviate high temperature effects during summer season. The experimental chicks were housed in battery cages and assigned to five groups (60 birds /each) according to the cage floor and litter type. Birds in the first group were raised on wire mesh cage floor and were considered the control (C). While the second and third groups (T1, T2 and T3) were raised on wire mesh cage with wheat straw litter, wire mesh cage with wood sawdust litter and plastic net floors, respectively. All experimental birds were raised under similar environmental and managerial conditions. The results showed that birds raised on wire mesh cage with wood sawdust litter and plastic net throughout the experiment had superior body weight, feed conversation, dressed carcass, body temperature, lymphocyte, hematocrit and mortality percentages compared to birds raised wire mesh cage with or without wheat straw litter and wooden slats floors at any time. Otherwise, the incidence of leg problems, breast blisters and airborne dust particulates, litter pH, bacterial count and ammonia concentrations inside the poultry house were decreased. However, no significant differences (P≤0.05) existed in litter pH, plumage conditions, bone measurements, litter moisture percentage and caking score. It could be concluded that birds raised on wire mesh cage with wood sawdust litter and plastic net had high performance and health efficiency. Consequently, it could be recommended to mange Japanese quail on wire mesh cage with wood sawdust litter and plastic net during high summer temperatures.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of feed color and odor on productive performance of New Zealand White rabbits. Forty eighty growing rabbits weaned at 28 days were randomly divided into six groups of 8 rabbit each. Rabbits divided into three main groups; first group were fed on non colored diets, while those in the second and third groups were fed on orange and green colored diets. Each main group was divided into subgroups according to feed odor (non odor or molasses odor). Using green colored feed significantly affected body weight and then carcass traits or quality. Green or orange groups had significant (P≤0.05) higher dressed carcass, liver percentages, carcass lengths and sensory attributes (tenderness and juiciness). However, no significant differences were found in percentages of heart, kidney, dissectible fat, Lean: bone ratio, moisture, ether extract, ash, aroma, taste, flavor and water holding capacity (WHC) among all groups. Likewise, significant effects were found by feed odor on feed intake and feed conversion, sensory attributes (flavor , tenderness and juiciness), texture and pH of meat. Significant effects were determined in some blood parameters levels. Molasses odor decreased rectal temperature compared with control group. In conclusion, green feed with molasses odor improved growth performance and health status of New Zealand White rabbits

The influence of some water additives at early ages on growth performance and carcass characteristics was studied in 120 broiler chicks. The experimental chicks assigned to four groups (30 birds /each). Birds were supplied with drinking tape water, and considered as control group (C). While, the first, second and third treatment (T1, T2 and T3) were supplied with drinking water containing 10% of skim milk, molasses and dried egg, respectively. All experimental birds were raised under similar environmental and managerial conditions. Results indicated that supplementing water with skim milk, molasses and fresh egg significantly (P 0.05) increased body weight &body weight gains and improved feed conversion compared to control birds. Birds supplied with drinking water contained molasses significantly (P 0.05 increased body weight gains and improved feed conversion compared with that obtained from birds either supplied with drinking water contained skim milk and fresh whole egg. Also, molasses supplementation groups had superior dressed carcass, gizzard and liver percentages and immune responses. Otherwise, no significant differences (P≤0.05) existed in abdominal fat, carcass cutup parts, meat quality traits, most blood parameters, bone measurements and mortality rate. It could be concluded that birds supplied with drinking water containing 10% of molasses during growing period had high performance and economical efficiency. Consequently, it could be recommended to present the drinking water containing 10% of molasses for broiler chicks during early feeding period.

The influence of some water additives at early ages on growth performance and carcass characteristics was studied in 120 broiler chicks. The experimental chicks assigned to four groups (30 birds /each). Birds were supplied with drinking tape water, and considered as control group (C). While, the first, second and third treatment (T1, T2 and T3) were supplied with drinking water containing 10% of skim milk, molasses and dried egg, respectively. All experimental birds were raised under similar environmental and managerial conditions. Results indicated that supplementing water with skim milk, molasses and fresh egg significantly (P 0.05) increased body weight &body weight gains and improved feed conversion compared to control birds. Birds supplied with drinking water contained molasses significantly (P 0.05 increased body weight gains and improved feed conversion compared with that obtained from birds either supplied with drinking water contained skim milk and fresh whole egg. Also, molasses supplementation groups had superior dressed carcass, gizzard and liver percentages and immune responses. Otherwise, no significant differences (P≤0.05) existed in abdominal fat, carcass cutup parts, meat quality traits, most blood parameters, bone measurements and mortality rate. It could be concluded that birds supplied with drinking water containing 10% of molasses during growing period had high performance and economical efficiency. Consequently, it could be recommended to present the drinking water containing 10% of molasses for broiler chicks during early feeding period.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of application flash lighting program on performance and physiological status of naked neck chickens. Three hundred and sixty, four weeks old birds were randomly distributed into 6 experimental groups (3 replicates of 20 birds each) and housed in floor pens. The first group (control group, C), birds were maintained under 12 hrs and 16 hrs common light (CL) per day during the growing and laying periods, respectively. While, in the other groups, birds were exposed to light flashes for 10 minute/hour (T1), 20 minute/hour (T2), 30 minute/hour (T3), 40 minute/hour (T4) and 50 minute/hour (T5) for 12 and 16 hrs light/day during the growing and laying periods, respectively. Main results indicated that light flashes program significantly (P≤0.05) improved growth efficiency, carcass dressing percentage, breast percentage, abdominal fat percentage, egg laying rate, egg shell thickness, sexual parameters and healthy status. Also, estradiol hormone significantly (P≤0.05) increased by application of flash lighting program. However, long period of light flashes program recorded the worst values as in general performance and welfare (H / L ratio and tonic immobility values). Insignificant (P>0.05) effect were observed in drumstick, femur, liver, heart, gizzard, most blood components, egg shape or yolk, Haugh units, leg problems, plumage conditions, bone lengths, age at sexual maturity, genital organs and hatchability percentages. From an economical point of view, it is observed that the birds exposed to light flashes periods for 10 to 30 minutes/hour were superior to that of birds in other groups. Using short periods of light flashes might be suitable as alternative light to continuous or common light for managing Sharkasi chicken in sight and stimulation of internal organs or hormones release without oppositely affecting the physiological response, healthy traits and welfare.

The current investigation aimed to study the effects of feed withdrawal times, water temperature and their interaction on growth performance, carcass traits, blood parameters and health aspects of native turkeys. 180 one-day old of native turkey chicks, of 4 weeks of age, were used in current work. Turkeys were divided into six equal treatments in a 3×2 factorial arrangement. Birds were allocated in three main groups according to feed withdrawal times (ad libitum, feed withdrawal during 8.00 to 14.00 h; FW8-14, and feed withdrawal during 14.00 to 20.00 h; FW14-20) and then each main group was divided into two sub-groups corresponded to water temperature (ordinary and chilled water). Results indicated that birds reared under FW14-20 had the highest body weight (BW) and body weight gain (BWG) when compared with the other groups. Turkeys drank chilled water recorded higher BW than those had ordinary water. Turkeys reared under FW8-14 and drank chilled water had the highest BW at marketing and BWG during 4-16 weeks of age as compared with the other groups of the interaction. Turkeys kept off feed FW14-20 had the lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR) when compared with the other groups. Birds reared under FW14-20 and got chilled water had the highest feed efficiency. Feed withdrawal schedules, water temperature and their interaction did not significantly influence carcass traits. Meat color score for birds drank chilled water was higher than those got ordinary water. Birds kept off feed FW14-20 followed by those fed ad libitum had higher values of tenderness and juiciness than the other group. Birds reared under FW14-20 had the highest values of A/ G ratio and glucose, while they had the lowest values of globulin and AST. Turkeys kept under FW14-20 and drank chilled water had the lowest corticosterone concentration as compared with the other groups. Turkeys reared under FW14-20 had the lowest body temperature in comparison with the other groups. Birds drank chilled water had lower body temperature than those got ordinary water. Turkeys fed ad libitum and drank chilled water had the lowest body temperature, while those kept off feed FW8-14 and got ordinary water had the highest one. From these results, it could be concluded that, using feed withdrawal and cold water as managerial alternatives for raising local turkey during summer season is highly recommended.

This study was undertaken to determine the effect of dietary vitamin D supplementation in relation to light flash program on the growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, some blood parameters and economic efficiency of broiler chickens. Therefore, 270 birds were randomly distributed into three main groups and housed in floor pens and reared under continues light for 24 hrs per day; 16 hrs continues light +8 h flash light/day and 8 hrs continues light +16 hrs flash light/day, respectively. Each main group were divided into 3 equal groups (60 birds each) and received 0, 100 and 200 ppm vitamin D from 4 wks till six weeks of age. Main results could be summarized as follows: light flash program significantly affected body weight, daily weight gain, feed conversion, dressed carcass, some blood traits as T3 hormone, leg problems, lymphoid organs and body temperature. However, it had insignificant effects on most meat quality traits. In addition, the body weight and body weight gain were significantly increased at all levels of dietary vitamin D. The liver, bursa and breast weights (expressed as percent of body weight) increased significantly with diet containing 100 or 200 ppm vitamin D. Meat quality traits, bone measurements and plumage conditions significantly affected by all levels of dietary vitamin D. Plasma protein, glucose, AST and ALT activities increased significantly in birds fed diets added 200 ppm vitamin D levels. Economic efficiency of the broiler chickens was precisely improved at levels of 100 ppm dietary vitamin D with second program of flash light (16 hrs continues light +8 h flash light/day) .

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different outdoor swimming durations on the performance and health status of Muscovy ducks raised during the hot summer season in Egypt. One hundred and eighty (180) one-month old Muscovy ducks were randomly allotted to four treatments based on the outdoor swimming duration offered to birds as following: control group (C) where birds were raised by using indoor system without outdoor water pond access. While, birds of the other 3 groups had an access to outdoor swimming pond as follow: birds of treatment one (T1) had access to outdoor swimming pond for 2 hrs /day (10:00 to 12:00 h), birds of treatment two (T2) had access to outdoor swimming pond for 4 hrs /day (10:00 to 14:00 h) and birds of treatment three (T3) had access to outdoor swimming pond for 6 hrs/day (10:00 to 16:00 h). Each treatment includes forty five birds which divided into five replicates of 9 birds each. The results indicated that the different durations of outdoor swimming significantly (P≤0.05) improved the growth performance, dressed carcass, abdominal fat, meat quality (color, flavor and tenderness), lymphocyte, H/L ratio, body temperature, plumage conditions, keal bone length, body depth, foot pad burns, breast blisters score and mortality rate of Muscovy ducks. Moreover, the effects of accessing Muscovy ducks to outdoor swimming pond for 4 hrs /day during hot summer were clearer (better) than the other experimental durations. However, no significant differences in feed consumption, giblets, meat juicines, shank length, hock discoloration and blood hematocrit values were recorded between different treatments. In conclusion, accessing Muscovy ducks to outdoor swimming pond for 4 hrs /day may be a good strategy to improve the ducks’ health status during the harmful hot summer conditions; however, further investigations are still needed to give further data about the behavioral changes and welfare indicators.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding time management (at morning or afternoon) on productive performance of New Zealand white rabbits in the hot summer of Assiut. Forty rabbits, four weeks old, were reared in batteries and assigned to 5 groups (8 rabbits /each). In the control group, the feed was offered ad libitum daily (C). While, the first treatment group (T1) was fed at 1000 and 1600 h, during the warmest time of day. The second treatment group (T2) was fed at 1600 to 2200 h. The third treatment group (T3) was fed at 2200 to 0400 h. The fourth treatment group (T4) was fed at 0400 to 1000 h, during the temperate climatic conditions, in order to avoid the deleterious effect of the high temperature on the growing rabbits in the summer season under Upper Egypt. All the other conditions were the same during the experimental period. The rabbits were supplied with clean water all the time. The results showed that change feeding time to afternoon significantly (P≤0.05) improved growth performance, body temperature, dressed carcass percentage. While, no significant differences (P≤0.05) existed in most blood parameters. In conclusion, feeding New Zealand white rabbits at afternoon is a good and economical managerial tool to alleviate the harmful effects of high temperature stress during the summer season.