Ultraviolet radiation and laying pullets

Abstract

1. Responses to ultraviolet (UV) radiation were studied in two trials. In one trial, sexually mature pullets, that had been maintained on an 8L:16D regimen from 2 d of age, were exposed sequentially, for periods of 9 to 12 d, to a further 8 h of very dim visible light (VDV), to 8 h of UV radiation and, finally, to an extra 8 h of normal light (conventional 16L:8D). Individual ovipositions were recorded during the last 48 h of each treatment. In the second trial, sexually mature pullets which had been allowed to ‘free-run’ for 14 d under continuous normal illumination (LL), were given, in addition to the normal light, a 12-h period of UV radiation commencing at midday or midnight for a further 15 d. During the final 48 h oviposition times were recorded and 4 food intakes for each 12-h period were determined. 2. In trial 1, mean oviposition time under VDV and UV supplementation was not significantly different from that under the 8L:16D regimen. Transfer to a 16L:8D regimen altered mean time of oviposition by about 4 h. In trial 2, eggs continued to be laid almost at random in all groups. 3. Food intake was suppressed during the 12-h period of UV supplementation compared with that when the birds were not receiving UV. 4. It is concluded that the addition of 8 h of UV radiation (at the intensity used in these studies) to 8 h of normal light does not cause a phase shift in the timing of the ‘open-period’ for pre-ovulatory luteinising hormone release which determines the time of oviposition. Furthermore, the insertion of 12-h periods of UV into continuous illumination does not entrain egg laying. 5. The suppressing effect of UV on food intake but lack of influence on the timing of the ovulatory cycle suggests that UV (at the intensity used in this study) acts principally at the retinal level and, as a result, stimulates only behavioural responses in laying birds.