Interaction Effect of Melatonin and Lighting Regime on Behavioral Responses, Hematological Indices and Production Performance of Isa Brown Laying Birds

Background: Poor poultry production performance of laying birds because of reduced immunity leading to economic loss is a major problem facing egg production in the poultry industry especially in Nigeria. Melatonin is a hormone that regulates the brain's biological clock and acts on physiological functions and the immunity system. It also provides the elimination of free radicals in the body, but lighting affects melatonin secretion and light is also necessary to enhance feeding and photoperiod which enhance egg laying. Methods: A total of 164 Isa Brown laying Birds were used to evaluate the interaction effect of melatonin and lighting regime on behavioural responses, haematological indices and laying performance of Isa Brown laying birds. The experiment was grouped into 9 treatments which were further subdivided into three replicates of six birds in a 2×3 factorial in a completely randomized design. Melatonin and lighting at three levels were administered to the birds daily for 30 weeks. The three levels of melatonin were 0 mg, 5 mg and 10 mg while lighting was 12 hours, 15 hours and 18 hours daily. Data were collected on behavioural responses, haematological indices and production performance of the birds. Result: Results from the experiment indicate that the interaction of melatonin and lighting significantly (p less than 0.05) reduced the dust-bathing, feather pecking and panting rate of the birds. The interaction level at M10L15 reduced dustbathing to 80.30% as against the control M0L12 which was at 95.43%. The interaction significantly (p less than 0.05) improved feed conversion ratio, body weight gain and hen-day egg production for M10L12, M5L15, M10L15 respectively. The haematological parameters were significantly improved by the effect of the interaction. It is therefore concluded that the interaction of melatonin and lighting in different levels of administration improved the behavioural responses and production performances and maintained the health status of the Isa brown laying birds.