When you come to the "lighting" stage of your to-do list as you enhance your existing or new build, the vast array of lighting system types, colors, brands, and styles can be overwhelming. Poultry are animals with heightened photosensitivity and complex visual systems that enable them to perceive light differently than humans and react to light in diverse ways depending on the color, intensity, distribution, and duration. There are four main factors to consider when selecting which light source is best for your poultry house: light source, light spectrum, dimmability, and light plan design
Light Source
The poultry industry has several light sources to choose from for use in poultry houses, including incandescent, compact fluorescent (CFL), and light-emitting diode (LED) lamps. Of all the available options, LEDs have become the preferred artificial light source due to their potential spectral flexibility, reduced heat production, and high energy efficiency compared to incandescent and CFL light sources. Poultry-specific LEDs are engineered to be highly energy-efficient (100+ lm/W) and durable enough to withstand barn environments. With the increasing demand for sustainable technology in the poultry industry, the advancements in LED design over the last ten years have paved the way for an efficient and safe lighting solution for poultry houses.
Light Spectrum
Poultry are highly photosensitive, and the spectrum of an artificial light source can influence bird performance, behavior, and well-being throughout its life. Previous research indicates blue and green light have many positive impacts on broiler and pullet performance and welfare. Green light accelerated broiler muscle growth and stimulated overall growth during the first half of grow-out, while blue light stimulated growth in older boilers during the second half of grow-out (Rozenboim et al., 2004).
Mature laying hens and breeders require both visual and non-visual photostimulation to activate the reproductive axis and become fertile. Visual photoreception facilitates sight, allowing the bird to respond to conspecifics and the surrounding environment. Nonvisual photoreception doesn’t contribute to sight, but it stimulates many biological processes in the body, such as the reproductive axis, metabolism, circadian rhythm, and immune system (Cassone, 2014).
The ONCE NatureDynamics DOME Broiler lighting system, a multi-channel, fully customizable solution with wireless control, can be used as a tool to deliver dynamic light recipes to broilers from placement to harvest. Through years of research and innovation with universities and global field trials, NatureDynamics DOME light recipes were developed to enhance broiler welfare and performance.
Figure 1. FCR results from 48 ONCE NatureDynamics DOME Broiler global field trials
Dimmability
Poultry production systems are continually evolving. Along with feeding, ventilation, and other key systems, lighting plays a critical role in the growth and behavior of poultry. As with all other production systems used in modern poultry houses, it is crucial to maintain precise control over light intensity from 100% - 0.1% to mitigate bird stress and behavioral issues during daily light transitions.
Commercially grown poultry typically require bright light during brooding but prefer areas with dimmer light intensity to rest as they grow older. Ensuring barn controllers and lights have the capability to gradually reduce the light intensity over multiple days when transitioning from the brood intensity to the grow-out intensity is essential for broilers and pullets, as this will allow young birds to adjust to the light settings over time without causing additional stress during a very critical period of growth for both strains.
Light Plan Design
Proper lighting distribution and intensity are crucial factors in achieving poultry performance goals. Whether retrofitting an existing structure or installing lighting in a new one, it is imperative to understand how light characteristics can impact the overall lighting environment across the floor of the house. The placement of lighting lines and spacing can significantly affect light distribution. It is critical to note the location of key systems in the house that could potentially impact light line placement in the house, such as feeder/drinker lines, heaters, nests, and slats. Light lines can be strategically installed around these different systems to facilitate intentional bird movement and behavior in different zones of the house.
Gradient lighting sources are a new lighting innovation that enables birds to choose between various intensities based on their innate preferences for performing specific behaviors under specific light conditions. Research indicates that broilers prefer lower light intensities to rest once they are post-brooding, but also prefer to feed under high intensity lighting regardless of age.
Some animal lighting companies, including ONCE, offer CAD-based light plans that provide to-scale renderings of houses with specific light products. These renderings can measure the light intensity at bird eye height for all surfaces accessible to the birds in the house. Surface reflectivity, color, and light orientation can all be adjusted to create a representative and customized light plan for any poultry house.
Figure 2. FCR results from 13 ONCE Optient broiler field trials
Conclusion
When selecting the most suitable lighting option for poultry, growers should consider factors such as the type of light source, light spectrum, light intensity, and light distribution. By taking a comprehensive approach, growers can select the optimal lighting solution for their flock, which can lead to improved bird performance, behavior, and well-being throughout their life cycle.
