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  • Title: Effect of photoperiod on growth performance and quality characteristics of tibia and femur in layer ducks during the pullet phase.
    Author: Cui YM, Wang J, Zhang HJ, Feng J, Wu SG, Qi GH.
    Journal: Poult Sci; 2019 Mar 01; 98(3):1190-1201. PubMed ID: 30476246.
    Abstract:
    This study aimed to evaluate the effect of photoperiod on growth performance and bone development in layer ducks during the pullet phase. A total of 480 11-wk-old Jinding layer ducks were randomly divided into 5 groups, receiving 6L (light): 18D (dark), 8L: 16D, 10L: 14D, 12L: 12D, 14L: 10D, respectively. Each group had 6 replicates of 16 birds each. The feeding trial lasted 80 d until 150 d of age. The results showed that 8L: 16D increased body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG; P < 0.05) compared with 6L:18D, whereas average daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and mortality rate had no difference among all treatments (P > 0.05). The midpoint perimeter (tibia and femur) and work to fracture (Wu; tibia) increased quadratically (P < 0.05), in response to photoperiod increment. Compared with 6L:18D, 8L:16D had higher tibia midpoint perimeter, ultimate load (Fu), and cortical cross-sectional area (P < 0.05), accompanied with higher content of total Ca, distal bone mineral content (BMC), and cortical volumetric BMC (vBMC; P < 0.05). A linear increase was observed in trabecular volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) and vBMC (tibia and femur), elastic energy (femur), work to fracture Wu and young modulus of elasticity E (tibia) in response to photoperiod increase (P < 0.05), and treatment with 14L:10D had higher ultimate load Fu and total Ca of tibia (P < 0.05). Besides, estradiol and testosterone levels (serum), estrogen receptor gene mRNA expression (bone tissue), alkaline phosphatase and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activities, transforming growth factor-β, osteocalcin and tumor necrosis factor-α contents increased in ≥12 h photoperiods (P < 0.05). In summary, appropriate photoperiod increased BW, ADG, cortical bone generation, and bone mineralization, whereas only medullary bone formation increased with photoperiods. These results suggest that 8L:16D could be an adequate photoperiod for layer ducks' growth and bone development during the pullet phase.
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