INFLUENCE OF LIGHT ON THE HEMATOLOGY, LYMPHOID ORGANS AND PRODUCTION OF THE BROILERS

Effect of light stress at various time intervals on broiler chicks was studied during January- February, 2010 by rearing a total of 400, one-day-old Hubbard X Hubbard experimental chicks at Department of Microbiology, University of Veterinary and Animal sciences, Lahore, Pakistan. It was observed that light stressed birds had showed non-significant (P 0.05) difference on blood cells population except lymphocytes percentage was found higher in groups D (61.4+1.16) than group C. The effect on lymphoid organs studied and the mean thymus weight (gm) of chicks in group B (1.90+0.53) was adversely effected as the chicks in this group had significantly (P 0.05) lower mean thymus weight than groups D (4.64+0.74) and E (4.34+0.25) indicating that increase in the period of off-light in chicks adversely effected the mean thymus weight and chicks reared on 24hr light had higher mean thymus weight. The bursa mean weight (gm) of group B (0.43+0.05) was significantly (P 0.05) lower as compared to group D (1.59+0.17). The spleen mean weight (gm) of group D (1.88+0.15) was significantly (P 0.05) higher than group B (1.18+0.08). The FCR values were significantly (P 0.05) different among groups in 6th week and there was non-significant (P 0.05) difference among groups with treatment of Vitamin C, Vitamin E and glucose.