The experiment was conducted at Boilor, Trishal, Mymensingh, Bangladesh to examine the effects of a strategic lighting from age day 3 to 4 weeks of production trial on the performance of broiler compared with a continuous 24-hour lighting schedule (control). The chicks were reared under open shed house in rural condition in two separate houses (hereafter mentioned as House -1 and House-2) maintaining the standard broiler management practices. During the whole experimental period, House – 1, broilers were exposed to a lighting regime 1-3 days 24 hrs, 4-8 days 23 hrs, 9-14 days 22 hrs, 15-21 days 22 hrs and 22-28 days 20 hrs light was maintained. In House -2, 24 hours lighting was confirmed. Weekly observations were recorded for live body weight, mortality percentages, weekly body weight gain, weekly feed consumption, and feed conversion ratio of birds for four weeks. The treatment group had a yield BWG and FCR better than the control birds at 4 week. The other performance parameter (the ADG, cumulative mortality, carcass yield and weight of giblets) were also better. Hence the net profit was more in the treatment group. We also observed the behavioral changes in the birds and found that the birds in the treatment group had a greater degree of sociality and comfort which is the key indicator for ethical production. Although we did not measure the comfort by the changes in the behavior but it can easily said that the changes comes from rest provided. The strategic lighting program tended to have more natural daytime behavioral patterns in broilers, to reduce fearfulness (and thus psychological stress), and to increase sociality. We conclude that the treatment group had a better welfare status than control birds without affecting broiler performance even yielding better results.
