Comparison of Raising Broiler Chickens Under Light Emitting Diode or Incandescent Light at Differing Intensities on Growth, Stress and Fear
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3923/ijps.2016.425.431Keywords:
Behavior, broilers, lighting, stressAbstract
Background: The eventual switch to light-emitting diode (LED) light fixtures as the standard in the poultry industry has resulted in the need to reevaluate the standard management practices relating to lighting. Current management practices utilized by the industry are based on research that used lighting fixtures no longer used and therefore may no longer be relevant. One such practice is to raise broiler chickens under dim lighting to maximize growth and minimize stress and fear. Objective: To determine if broilers could be reared under brighter light using LEDs. Methodology: To investigate whether birds could be raised under brighter conditions using LED lighting compared to the traditional incandescent light without negatively affecting growth, feed conversion, stress and fear broilers (n = 120 per treatment) were raised under incandescent (INCAN) or LED lighting at either dim (5 lux) or bright (20 lux) intensity. Growth, feed conversion, fear and stress susceptibility were all quantified. Results: The LED-bright broilers weighed more after 45 days than all other treatments (p<0.05). The INCAN treatments overall had lower 45 days weights and higher 45 days feed conversion than the LED treatments (p<0.05). Intensity did not affect weights or feed conversion. The INCAN treatments exhibited more fear than the LED birds though the INCAN-dim birds behaved similarly to the LED treatments in tonic immobility. The INCAN treatments showed more stress susceptibility than the LED treatments (p<0.05). Conclusion: These results indicate that it is possible to raise broilers under brighter light when using LEDs without lowering growth or efficiency and still attaining the positive benefits of LED lighting on fear and stress.
References
Benson, E.R., D.P. Hougentogler, J. McGurk, E. Herrman and R.L. Alphin, 2013. Durability of incandescent, compact fluorescent and light emitting diode lamps in poultry conditions. Applied Eng. Agric., 29: 103-111.
Watkins, S., 2014. Poultry lighting: LED bulbs provide energy savings and durability. Division of Agriculture Research and Extension, Cooperative Extension Service Printing Services, University of Arkansas System, Arkansas.
Archer, G.S., 2015. Comparison of incandescent, CFL, LED and bird level LED lighting: Growth, fear and stress. Int. J. Poult. Sci., 14: 449-455.
Huth, J.C. and G.S. Archer, 2015. Comparison of two LED light bulbs to a dimmable CFL and their effects on broiler chicken growth, stress and fear. Poult. Sci., 94: 2027-2036.
CEC., 2005. Proposal for a council directive laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production. Commission of the European Communities (CEC).
Appleby, M.C., B.O. Hughes and A.H. Elson, 1992. Poultry Production Systems: Behsviour, Managetment and Welfare. CAB Internationl, Wallingford, Oxon, UK.
Prescott, N.B., C.M. Wathes and J.R. Jarvis, 2003. Light, vision and the welfare of poultry. Anim. Welfare, 12: 269-288.
Charles, R.G., F.E. Robinson, R.T. Hardin, M.W. Yu, J. Feddes and H.L. Classen, 1992. Growth, body composition and plasma androgen concentration of male broiler chickens subjected to different regimens of photoperiod and light intensity. Poult. Sci., 71: 1595-1605.
Lien, R.J., J.B. Hess, S.R. McKee and S.F. Bilgili, 2008. Effect of light intensity on live performance and processing characteristics of broilers. Poult. Sci., 87: 853-857.
Deaton, J.W., F.N. Reece, L.F. Kubena and J.D. May, 1976. Effect of varying light intensity on broiler performance. Poult. Sci., 55: 515-519.
Downs, K.M., R.J. Lien, J.B. Hess, S.F. Bilgili and W.A. Dozier III, 2006. The effects of photoperiod length, light intensity and feed energy on growth responses and meat yield of broilers. J. Applied Poult. Res., 15: 406-416.
Kristensen, H.H., G.C. Perry, N.B. Prescott, J. Ladewig, A.K. Ersboll and C.M. Wathes, 2006. Leg health and performance of broiler chickens reared in different light environments. Br. Poult. Sci., 47: 257-263.
Newberry, R.C., J.R. Hunt and E.E. Gardiner, 1988. Influence of light intensity on behavior and performance of broiler chickens. Poult. Sci., 67: 1020-1025.
Blatchford, R.A., K.C. Klasing, H.L. Shivaprasad, P.S. Wakenell, G.S. Archer and J.A. Mench, 2009. The effect of light intensity on the behavior, eye and leg health and immune function of broiler chickens. Poult. Sci., 88: 20-28.
Rozenboim, I., B. Robinzon and A. Rosenstrauch, 1999. Effect of light source and regimen on growing broilers. Br. Poult. Sci., 40: 452-457.
Zimmermann, N.G., 1988. Broiler performance when reared under various light sources. Poult. Sci., 67: 43-51.
Mendes, A.S., S.J. Paixao, R. Restelatto, G.M. Morello, D.J. de Moura and J.C. Possenti, 2013. Performance and preference of broiler chickens exposed to different lighting sources. J. Applied Poult. Res., 22: 62-70.
Bayraktar, H., A. Altan and C. Seremet, 2012. The effects of spot lighting on broiler performance and welfare. J. Anim. Vet. Adv., 11: 1139-1144.
Sultana, S., M.R. Hassan, H.S. Choe and K.S. Ryu, 2013. The effect of monochromatic and mixed LED light colour on the behaviour and fear responses of broiler chicken. Avian Biol. Res., 6: 207-214.
Morrison, G., 2013. LED vs CFL bulbs: Color temp, light spectrum and more. http://www.soundandvision.com/content/led-vs-cfl-bulbs-color-temp-light-spectrum-and-more#JrK5wG3QSk1EIVht.97.
Alvino, G.M., R.A. Blatchford, G.S. Archer and J.A. Mench, 2009. Light intensity during rearing affects the behavioural synchrony and resting patterns of broiler chickens. Br. Poult. Sci., 50: 275-283.
Lien, R.J., J.B. Hess, S.R. McKee, S.F. Bilgili and J.C. Townsend, 2007. Effect of light intensity and photoperiod on live performance, heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and processing yields of broilers. Poult. Sci., 86: 1287-1293.
Mahmood, S., F. Ahmad, Ahsan ul Haq, G. Abbas and R.A. Qureshi et al., 2014. Comparative effect of light intensity on behavior and blood profile in broilers. Sch. Adv. Anim. Vet. Sci., 1: 25-29.
Robles, S.S., 2013. The effect of lighting intensity on activity and tonic immobility response of broiler chickens (Gallus gallus Domesticus). M.Sc. Thesis, University of California, Davis.
FASS, 2010. Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Research and Teaching. 3rd Edn., Federation of Animal Science Societies, Champaign, Illinois, ISBN: 9781884706110, Pages: 169.
Archer, G.S. and J.A. Mench, 2014. Natural incubation patterns and the effects of exposing eggs to light at various times during incubation on post-hatch fear and stress responses in broiler (meat) chickens. Applied Anim. Behav. Sci., 152: 44-51.
Forkman, B., A. Boissy, M.C. Meunier-Salaun, E. Canali and R.B. Jones, 2007. A critical review of fear tests used on cattle, pigs, sheep, poultry and horses. Physiol. Behav., 92: 340-374.
Jones, R.B., 1986. The tonic immobility reaction of the domestic fowl: A review. Worlds Poult. Sci. Assoc. J., 42: 82-96.
Archer, G.S. and J.A. Mench, 2013. The effects of light stimulation during incubation on indicators of stress susceptibility in broilers. Poult. Sci., 92: 3103-3108.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2016 The Author(s)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
