Effect of combinations of monochromatic lights on growth and productive performance of broilers

Abstract

Our previous study suggested that green light promotes broiler growth during the early stage [posthatching day (P) 0 to P26], and blue light enhances growth during the later stage (P27 to P49). The purpose of this study was to improve broiler growth and productive performance by using a combination of monochromatic lights at critical points between the early and later stages of growth. A total of 512 male Arbor Acres broilers on P0 were reared under white light (W), red light (R), green light (G), and blue light (B) by using light-emitting diode lamps at 15 ± 0.2 lx from P0 to P26 (16 replicate pens/group, 8 birds/pen), and then switching to another color of light until P49 (4 replicate pens/group, 8 birds/pen). As compared with single monochromatic lights, broilers reared in environments under combinations of monochromatic lights, W→G, R→B, G→B, and B→G, attained heavier BW than those reared in environments under W→W (3.18 to 12.00%), R→R (1.96 to 18.14%), G→G (0.85 to 5.08%), and B→B (0.39 to 4.70%), respectively. In addition, feed conversion ratios in the W→B, R→B, and G→B combinations were lower than feed conversion ratios for W→W (15.86%, P < 0.05), R→R (18.41%, P < 0.05), and G→G (3.37%), respectively. Moreover, the eviscerated carcass weight and breast, thigh, and crus muscle weights under G→B were greater by 0.40 to 56.23% than were those for the other light groups except W→B (eviscerated carcass) and B→G (breast muscle). The results suggest that the application of the G→B and B→G exchanges can be used successfully to improve growth and productive performance in broilers.

A Comparison of Monochromatic and Mixed LED Light Color on Performance, Bone Mineral Density, Meat and Blood Properties, and Immunity of Broiler Chicks

“…Our results correspond with previous findings (Rozenboim et al, 2004;Cao et al, 2008). In a previous study, a G light treatment resulted in better growth performance during the starting period, whereas B light was better during the later period due to enhanced proliferation of skeletal muscle satellite cells (Halvey et al, 2006) reported that G light enhances weight gain more than that of B light and further growth enhancement was observed by changing G to B light color during the rearing period (Rozenboim et al, 2004;Karakaya et al, 2009;Cao et al, 2012).…”

“…Most researchers conducting broiler performance trials have assessed different light sources (Levenick and Leighton, 1988;Rozenboim et al, 1999), lighting periods (Downs et al, 2006;Schwean-Lardner et al, 2013), light intensities (Yahav et al, 2000;Lien et al, 2008), monochromatic light colors (Rozenboim et al, 2004;Cao et al, 2008;Ke et al, 2011) and combined light colors (Karakaya et al, 2009;Cao et al, 2012) on performance of broiler chickens. Rozenboim et al (2004) demonstrated that green (G) light stimulates growth of birds at an early age, and that shifting birds to a different light environment at 10 or 20 days of age may further stimulate growth.…”

“…Rozenboim et al (2004) demonstrated that green (G) light stimulates growth of birds at an early age, and that shifting birds to a different light environment at 10 or 20 days of age may further stimulate growth. Recently, Cao et al (2012) recommended applying green→blue (G→B) and blue→green (B→ G) exchanges to improve growth and performance in broilers. Karakaya et al (2009) mentioned that G→B (1-3 wks G and 4-6 wks B); or G→GB mixed lighting (1-3 wks G and 4-6 wks G＋B mix) during the rearing period of female broilers improves body and muscle growth and subsequent meat quality properties.…”

Light emitting diode (LED) use in artificial lighting for broiler chicken production

“…A factor that affect carcass yield is the bird sex, because males have larger number of muscle fibers than females, resulting in higher thigh + drumstick yield (FARIA et al, 2010). As noted by CAO et al (2012), LED monochromatic light combinations (green and blue) compared to a single light type use can increase broiler body, carcass, breast, and thigh weights and decrease feed conversion; thus, improving growth and yield performance. Average numbers followed by different letters in the column differ by Tukey test at 5% probability (p <0.05); VC = variation coefficient; HCW=hot carcass weight.…”

“…Currently, LED use in broiler production has demonstrated high luminous efficiency, less power consumption, and longer service life when compared to incandescent and fluorescent lamps (CAO et al, 2012). Evaluation results of different LED colors for artificial lighting system in poultry production and their physiological and production effects are found in literature (XIE et al, 2009;ZHANG et al, 2012;MENDES et al, 2013).…”