Ernst, 1992 – Effect of Lighting and Moving Age on Performance of Leghorn Pullets

The age at which sexual maturity occurs in layers can affect flock performance, egg size, and flock income. In this study, Hy-Line W-36 pullets were moved to the lay house and light stimulated at 126, 136 or 146 days of age. Egg production, egg size and egg shell quality were measured for twelve 28-day periods starting at 126 days of age. The age at 50% production was delayed significantly by the two latter lighting ages, but no statistically significant differences could be shown in eggs per hen housed, average egg weight, egg mass per hen, or egg value per hen housed. Eggs per hen housed, percent hen-day egg production and egg mass per hen were negatively correlated with age at 50% egg production. These results suggest that light stimulation at 126 days of age was the most profitable alternative of those studied with this strain.