Photoresponsiveness of turkey breeder hens changes during the egg-laying season: relative and absolute photorefractoriness.

Photosensitive species undergo neuroendocrine changes during a reproductive season that cause them to gradually become unresponsive to a photoperiod that initially stimulated reproduction. They may first become relatively photorefractory (rPR), when they will cease egg laying only if photoperiod is reduced, and then absolutely photorefractory (aPR), when they will cease laying despite long day length. Our objective was to test the photoresponsiveness of breeder turkey hens during egg production at various times following photostimulation and to relate photoresponsiveness to rPR and aPR as well as plasma levels of prolactin (PRL) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Hens were maintained in cages in light-controlled facilities and photostimulated at 31 wk of age (September) with a photoperiod of 16L:8D. At 8, 14, and 20 wk after photostimulation, treated hens received a 2-wk exposure to an 11.5L:12.5D photoperiod and were then returned to 16L:8D. Exposure to the shortened photoperiod at 8 wk of photostimulation resulted in three distinct responses of declining egg production: nonresponders (NR, 32.7% of hens), partial responders (PAR, 43.9%), or full responders (FR, 23.4%). Egg production returned to control levels following return to a 16L:8D photoperiod. This response repeated at the 14- and 20-wk treatment periods but with greater declines in egg production in the NR and PAR groups. The incidence of subsequent aPR in the NR, PAR, and FR groups was 5.7, 8.5 and 24%, respectively, as compared to 23.3% for the controls. Plasma LH and PRL concentrations also declined in response to 11.5L:12.5D and also rebounded following return to 16L:8D. The hormonal responses of NR, PAR, and FR were similar. We conclude that turkey hens exhibit varying degrees of rPR early during the egg laying season and that the incidence and severity of the rPR response increases as the laying season progresses. Further, PRL and LH levels did not reflect the differences in egg production among the responder and nonresponder groups to changes in photoperiod.