The Influence of the Light Transmission Properties of Plastic Window Coverings on Broiler Pigmentation

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of different window coverings on broiler pigmentation. Equal numbers of male and female broilers were grown in open-type houses. The control house had open sides, while each treatment house had window coverings with either 42% or 89% light transmission properties. Birds from houses with window coverings deposited the same amount of pigment in the skin as did birds from the open house as indicated by blood xanthophyll level and excitation purity. Skin color scores, however, as well as dominant wavelengths and luminosities of shanks from these birds, indicated that pigmentation of birds grown in the house with 42% light transmission window coverings was significantly inferior to that observed for birds grown in either the open house or the house with 89% light transmission window covering. It was concluded that in situations where pigmentation is of concern, care should be taken in selecting window coverings which will not adversely affect pigmentation.