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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Mississippi State, Mississippi » Poultry Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #352087
Research Project: Enhancing Sustainability and Production Efficiency through Improved Management and Housing Design in Commercial Broilers

Location: Poultry Research

Title: Effect of light intensity adjusted for species-specific spectral sensitivity on live performance and processing yield of male broiler chickens

Author
item Purswell, Joseph - Jody
item Olanrewaju, Hammed
item LINHOSS, J - Mississippi State University

Submitted to: Journal of Applied Poultry Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/21/2018
Publication Date: 9/26/2018
Citation: Purswell, J.L., Olanrewaju, H.A., Linhoss, J.E. 2018. Effect of light intensity adjusted for species-specific spectral sensitivity on live performance and processing yield of male broiler chickens. Journal of Applied Poultry Research. 27(4):570-576. https://doi.org/10.3382/japr/pfy034.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3382/japr/pfy034

Interpretive Summary: Commercial poultry operations have adopted alternative lighting systems to replace traditional incandescent light sources. New lighting technologies offer the ability to tailor lighting systems according to the specific spectral sensitivity characteristics of poultry. Providing a lighting environment that accounts for the specific characteristics of poultry vision may improve bird welfare and production efficiency. The objective of this study was to examine live performance and carcass yield in male broilers provided lighting from two different LED light sources (red-supplemented vs. un-supplemented) with intensities adjusted to either human spectral sensitivity (lux) or poultry spectral sensitivity (clux). No differences were observed in body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion, and mortality among main effect treatments or interactions. The data herein illustrate that broad spectrum lighting sources should not be expected to influence live performance or processing yields and design of lighting systems and programs is primarily an economic decision driven by capital and operation costs.

Technical Abstract: Adoption of alternative lighting systems to replace traditional incandescent light sources offers the opportunity to tailor lighting systems according to spectral sensitivity needs of different species. Providing a lighting environment that accounts for poultry vision may improve bird welfare and production efficiency. This study examined live performance and carcass yield in male broilers reared to 56d of age exposed to each of two LED light sources (red-supplemented vs. un-supplemented) adjusted to either human spectral sensitivity (lux) or poultry spectral sensitivity (clux) arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial. Body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion, and mortality were not different among treatments. The data herein illustrate that broad spectrum lighting sources should not be expected to improve live performance or processing yields and design of lighting systems and programs is primarily an economic decision driven by capital and operation costs.