November 21, 2023
Trial of XTi PAWS on Chukar Partridge growth and egg production, 1/2023 – 11/2023
Internal XTi Trial
Conclusion: Exposure of Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar) to XTi’s pulsed alternating wavelength system (PAWS) resulted in improved egg production and sustained bird size with overall improvement in bird aggression.
Study Objective:
- To evaluate the effect of XTi PAWS on growth and production of Chukar Partridge in light of previous results and lighting protocols.
- To better assess the results of XTi lighting with varying photoperiods on gamebird egg production while in captivity.
Background:
- Previous XTi trials on Alectoris rufa and Alectoris chukar showed the benefits of XTi lighting on egg production.
- There remains some limitation in manipulation of photoperiods and the resulting impact on egg production with XTi lighting.
Methods:
- The study was conducted at XTi’s research facility in northern Colorado.
- 180 Redleg Partridge (Alectoris chukar) chicks were obtained from a currently ongoing internal XTi trial. The birds were placed into 6 tents. Five tents had XTi “recipes”, 1 tent was a control. Tents had either 8 hrs of light, 24 hrs of light, or a ramping light protocol as recommended by the commercial producer.
- Birds were transferred to commercial battery lay cages at 21 weeks of age and XTi recipes were changed from “grow” recipes to “lay” recipes in certain cages per protocol.
- Bird weight and egg production data was collected to week 39 when the trial was ended.
- Birds were kept in commercial gamebird battery cages and fed standard gamebird feed.
Results:
- Birds under XTi recipes showed an increase in production relative to the control birds…under similar photoperiods.
- XTi bird production was still increasing at the end of the trial as opposed to the decline in production seen in the control birds.
- XTi bird weights were not inferior to control birds. There was no decline in bird weight or negative impact on bird health despite increased egg production.
Discussion:
- XTi lighting can increase chukar egg production, as long as an appropriate photoperiod protocol is selected. XTi lighting was not able to overcome some seasonal limitations on photoperiod that greatly impacts gamebird egg production.
- Gains in egg production were seen without any negative bird outcomes.
- Birds generally seem to be less stressed with less aggressive behaviors noted.