Effects of different wavelengths of light on the biology, behavior, and production of grow-out Pekin ducks

Abstract

Previous research has shown that red light conditions may improve growth and decrease aggressive behaviors in chickens and turkeys; however, more recent studies suggest that blue-green light may improve production of broilers over red light. To date, no research has been conducted to examine whether different wavelengths of light have an impact on production in the Pekin duck. To determine this, we raised Pekin ducks under aviary conditions that were similar to standard commercial barns. The ducks were kept in 3 different pens: red light (approximately 625 nm), blue light (approximately 425 nm), and white light. Light sources in each pen were standardized to produce a peak energy at 1.6 × 10³ μM photons/m²/s at the level of the ducks' heads. Ducks were given ad libitum access to water and commercial duck diet, and were housed on pine shavings at a density of 0.43 m²/duck. Ducks were evaluated weekly for BW and condition and a subjective measure of the duck's anxiety levels was determined. We found that ducks housed under blue light had significantly (P < 0.01) reduced BW at every age until the end of the study (processing age; 35 d). Unlike ducks housed under red or white light, ducks housed in the blue pen showed a higher level of anxiety; while evaluators were in the pen a majority of them began panting, they were much less inquisitive than other ducks, they took longer to exhibit normal social behavior once evaluation was completed, and they frequently "swarmed" when no people were present. There were no differences in any measurements between the red and white-lighted pens. These data suggest that unlike the chicken, blue lights may be inappropriate for raising Pekin ducks in a commercial setting.

Increased water contamination and grow-out Pekin duck mortality when raised with water troughs compared to pin-metered water lines using a United States management system

“…The purpose of preening is to maintain feather quality and cleanliness in healthy birds. Our laboratory has examined and published observations of nearly 1,000,000 ducks raised with pin-metered water line systems; ducks observed in all our publications showed excellent body condition, particularly with eye and feather quality, and feather cleanliness regardless of other differences in management or environmental conditions (Fraley et al, 2013 ; Karcher et al, 2013 ; Campbell et al, 2014 ; Colton and Fraley, 2014 ; Rice et al, 2014 ; Campbell et al, 2015 ). Thus, we have not observed any consistent or specific evidence showing that pin-metered water lines are unable to support adequate preening for Pekin ducks.…”

Expression of deep brain photoreceptors in the Pekin drake: a possible role in the maintenance of testicular function

“…For each repeated experiment, we rotated the light among the different pens to minimize any pen-location affects. All lights were from fluorescent bulbs and the photonic energy was normalized to 1.6 × 10 3 μM photons/m 2 /sec at the level of the ducks’ heads in each pen, as we have described previously (Campbell et al, 2015 ). Blood samples were collected from all drakes during the scotophase 1 h prior to light exposure.…”

“…Male quail appear to respond equally in testicular growth to either blue or full-spectrum white light (Nakane et al, 2010 ). Although in some species, blue light is sufficient and even desirable for increased growth, reproduction, or other favorable behaviors (Levenick and Leighton, 1988 ; Prayitno et al, 1997 ; Rozenboim et al, 2004 ; Iyilikci et al, 2009 ; Zhang et al, 2014 ), this condition does not appear to be the case for ducks (Campbell et al, 2015 ). It has been suggested that for optimal growth (Campbell et al, 2015 ) and reproductive development to occur in drakes, both red and blue wavelengths are required (Benoit, 1961 ; Benoit, 1964 ).…”

Deep sequencing identification of miRNAs in pigeon ovaries illuminated with monochromatic light

“…Artificial illumination is widely used in the poultry industry, and both the optimum photoperiod and light wavelength have been investigated [ 1 , 2 ]. We previously showed that red light (RL) supplementation increases the laying rate of pigeons and alters the expression of the circadian gene BMAL1 [ 3 , 4 ], and another investigation performed in experimental rooms reached the similar conclusion that RL promotes pigeon egg production while blue light (BL) has the opposite effect [ 5 ].…”