Effects of light environment and population density on growth performance of male turkeys: 2. Physiological changes.

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to determine the effects of intermittent white light [2 h of light (L) followed by 2 h of dark (D) repeated six times per day] vs. diurnal white, blue, and red light (12L12D), light intensities of 86.1 lx (high) vs. 5.4 lx (low) at high and low population densities, and season of the year on changes in the pineal, pituitary, and adrenal glands and testes of male turkeys. Pineal gland weights were unaffected by any of the factors under study. Pituitary gland weights significantly increased only in 12-wk-old males reared during the fall and winter compared with those reared during the spring and summer, but were unaffected by the imposed light environments or population density. Adrenal glands were significantly larger in males reared under high population density conditions in comparison with those reared under low density housing. The different light environments were ineffective in altering the effects of population density on adrenal response. Intermittent, high intensity light caused precocious sexual development when males were between 12 and 23 wk of age. White light and red-filtered light stimulated testes activity and seminiferous tubule development, whereas blue-filtered light was nonstimulatory.