Effects of pen colour and photoperiod interactions on the performance and respiratory rate of finisher gilts

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of pen colour and photoperiod interactions on the performance and respiratory rate of gilts at finisher stage. Thirty-six crossbred (Large white x Landrace) gilts of mean body weight of 38.12±0.59kg were randomly allotted to four (4) treatments. Pens were painted with different colours: pantone441 (control), pantone293 (blue), pantone185 (red) and pantone361 (green) and exposed to photoperiods of 12, 15 and 18 hours (h). The experimental design was 3x 4 factorial arrangement in a completely randomised design. Performance parameters measured were Feed Intake (FI), Final Weight (FW) and Weight Gain (WG), while Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) was calculated weekly throughout the eight weeks of the experiment. Respiratory and rectal temperatures were also monitored. The main effect of pen colour was not significant (p>0.05) on FW and WG across the treatments while there were no significant variations (p>0.05) in the values of FI and FCR of the gilts due to pen colour. The respiratory rate varied significantly (p<0.05) with gilts in red pen (46.64±2.32) having the highest value. Photoperiod had no significant (p>0.05) effects on FW and WG, while FI and FCR had significant (p<0.05) variation across the treatments [12 h. (5.05±0.37),18 h (4.70±0.22) and 15 (4.68±0.25)]. Interactions of pen colour x photoperiods was also significant for FW, WG, FCR and FI. It can therefore be concluded that rearing gilts at finisher stage in green, blue or red pens gives optimal performance and photoperiod of 12 hours gives maximum production.