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Effect of supplementary ultraviolet lighting on the behaviour and corticosterone levels of Japanese quail chicks

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

EL Smith ,
VJ Greenwood ,
AR Goldsmith  and
IC Cuthill
EL Smith*
Affiliation:
Centre for Behavioural Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, UK
VJ Greenwood
Affiliation:
Centre for Behavioural Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, UK
AR Goldsmith
Affiliation:
Centre for Behavioural Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, UK
IC Cuthill
Affiliation:
Centre for Behavioural Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, UK
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: [email protected]
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Abstract

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Most birds have visual sensitivity to ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths, and this sensitivity appears to play a role in their colour vision. Artificial lighting is normally deficient in UV wavelengths. Hence, there may be welfare implications for captive birds kept under such lighting. We investigated whether the absence of UV wavelengths during rearing adversely affects Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). We also investigated the short-term effect of switching from UV-containing to UV-deficient lighting, and vice versa. Stress was assessed by monitoring behaviour and plasma corticosterone levels. We did not detect any significant difference in these variables between birds reared either with or without UV. We conclude that rearing quail in an absence of UV does not appear to have a significant impact on their welfare, as measured using these indicators.

Keywords

animal welfarebehaviourcorticosteroneJapanese quailultravioletUV
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 14 , Issue 2: The Three Rs: past, present and future , May 2005 , pp. 103 - 109
Copyright
© 2005 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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