The Effect of Red and White LED Light on Performance, Egg Quality and Some Behavior Characteristics of Laying Hens Raised in Enriched Cages

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24925/turjaf.v12i3.375-381.6298

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of red and white LED light on sexual maturity, performance, egg quality and some behavior characteristics of laying hens. A total of 432 sixteen-wk-old Brown layer pullets (Lohmann) were randomly allocated to 2 treatment groups, each with 12 replicates. Treatment groups were consisted of 1) Monochromatic red LED lighting and 2) White LED lighting. Birds were housed in enriched cages during the experiment (16-32 wk). It was determined that hens reached sexual maturity 5 days and peak egg production 4 days earlier under monochromatic red light than under white light and produced 2,05% more eggs during the experiment. In the same period, it was seen that there was no significant difference in feed consumption and feed conversion ratio (FCR) between the lighting groups. However, it was seen that the hens had better FCR values in red light at 21, 23-26 and 29 weeks when egg production was high.

Egg weight and egg mass were higher in red light. Light color did not influence the egg quality characteristics, the rates of perch, nestbox use and cracked egg of laying hens. As a result, monochromatic red LED light treatment starting at the end of the growth period enabled the birds to reach sexual maturity earlier and produce more eggs during the laying period. 

References

Appleby, M.C. (1998). The Edinburgh modified cage: Effects of group size and space allowance on brown laying hens. Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 7, 152-161. https://doi.org/10.1093/japr/7.2.152

Archer, G.S. (2019). Animal well-being and behavior how does red light affect layer production, fear, and stress? Poultry Science, 98, 3-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.3382/ps/pey302

Baxter, M., Joseph, N., Osborne, V., & Bedecarrats, G. (2014). Red light is necessary to activate the reproductive axis in chickens independently of the retina of the eye. Poultry Science, 93, 1289–1297. http://dx.doi.org/ 10.3382/ps.2013-03799

Baxter, M. (2015). Studying the effect of light wavelength on laying hens (Gallus gallus). [Master of Science dissertation, University of Guelph].

Borille, R., Garcia, R.G., Royer, A.F.B., Santana, M.R., Colet. S., Naas I.A., Caldara, F.R., Almeida Paz, I.C.L., Rosa, E.S., & Castilho, V.A.R. (2013). The use of light-emitting diodes (LED) in commercial layer production. Revista Brasileira de Ciência Avícola, 15(2), 135-140. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-635X2013000200009

Bingöl, T., & Akşit, M. (2022). Monokromatik LED aydınlatmanın etlik piliçlerin performansı, göğüs eti kalitesi, tibia kemiği özellikleri ve immunoglobulin g düzeyine etkisi. Türk Tarım – Gıda Bilim ve Teknoloji Dergisi, 10(5), 871-878. https://doi.org/10.24925/turjaf.v10i5.871-878.5085

Duncan, E.T., Appleby, M.C., & Hughes, B.O. (1992). Effect of perches in laying cages on welfare and production of hens. British Poultry Science, 33, 25-35. https://doi.org/10.1080/00071669208417441

Efil, H., & Sarıca, M. (1997). Yumurta kalite tanımında güçlükler ve son gelişmeler. 19 Mayıs Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Dergisi, 12 (3), 141-150.

England, E., & Ruhnke, I. (2020). The influence of light of different wavelengths on laying hen production and egg quality, World's Poultry Science Journal, 76:3, 443-458. https://doi.org/10.1080/00439339.2020.1789023

Er, D., Wang, Z., Cao, J., & Chen, Y. (2007). Effect of monochromatic light on the egg quality of laying hens. Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 16, 605-612. https://doi.org/10.3382/japr.2006-00096

Gongruttananun, N. (2011). Influence of red light on reproductive performance, eggshell ultrastructure, and eye morphology in Thai-native hens. Poultry Science, 90, 2855-2863. https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.2011-01652

Foster, R.G., & Follett, B.K. (1985). The involvement of a rhodopsin-like photopigment in the photoperiodic response of the Japanese quail. Journal of Comparative Physiology, 157: 519-528.

Harrison, P., McGinnis, J., Shumaier, G., & Lauber, J. (1969). Sexual maturity and subsequent reproductive performance of white leghorn chickens subjected to different parts of the light spectrum. Poultry Science, 48, 878-883. https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.0480878

Hassan, Md.R., Sultana, S., Sung, H.H., & Saon, R.K. (2013). Effect of monochromatic and combined light colour on performance, blood parameters, ovarian morphology and reproductive hormones in laying hens. Italian Journal of Animal Science, 12, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.4081/ijas.2013.e56

Haugh, R.R. (1937). The Haugh unit for measuring egg quality. US. Egg Poultry Magazine, 43, 552-555.

Huber-Eicher, B., Suter, A., & Spring-Stahli, P. (2013). Effects of coloured light-emitting diode illumination on behaviour and performance of laying hens. Poultry Science, 92, 869-873. https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.2012-02679

Kamanlı, S., Durmuş, İ., Demir, S., & Tarım, B. (2015). Effect of different light sources on performance and egg quality traits in laying hens. European Poultry Science, 79. https://doi.org/10.1399/eps.2015.109

Karakaya, M., Parlat, S., Yılmaz, M., Yıldırım, I., & Ozalp, B. (2009). Growth performance and quality properties of meat from broiler chickens reared under different monochromatic light sources. British Poultry Science, 50: 76-82. https://doi.org/10.1080/00071660802629571

Kim, M.J., Hossan, M.S., Akter, N., Na, J.C., Bang, T., Kang, H.K., Kim. D.W., Chae, H.S., Choi, H,C., & Suh, O.S. (2012). Effect of monochromatic light on sexual maturity, production performance and egg quality of laying hens. Avian Biology Research, 5(1),1-6. https://doi.org/10.3184/175815512X13350270679453

Kumar, V., Singh, B.P. & Rani, S. (2004). The bird clock: A complex, multi-oscillatory and highly diversified system. Biological Rhythm Research, 35,121–144. https://doi.org/10.1080/09291010412331313287

Kuenzel, W.J. (1993). The search for deep encephalic photoreceptors within the avian brain, using gonadal development as a primary indicator. Poultry Science,72, 959–967. https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.0720959

Liu, K., Xin, H., Sekhon, J., & Wang, T. (2018). Effect of fluorescent vs. poultry-specific light-emitting diode lights on production performance and egg quality of W-36 laying hens. Poultry Science, 97, 834-844. http://dx.doi.org/10.3382/ps/pex371

Mendes, A.S., Paixao, S.J., Restelatto, R., Morello, G.M., de Moura, D.J., & Possenti, J.C. (2013). Performance and preference of broiler chickens exposed to different lighting sources. Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 22, 62-70. https://doi.org/10.3382/japr.2012-00580

Mobarkey, N., Avital, N., Heiblum, R. & Rozenboim I. (2010). The role of retinal and extra-retinal photostimulation in reproductive activity in broiler breeder hens. Domestic Animal Endocrinology, 38, 235-243. https://doi:10.1016/j.domaniend.2009.11.002.

Poudel, I., Beck, M.M., Kiess, A.S., & Adhikari, P. (2022). The effect of blue and red LED light on the growth, egg production, egg quality, behavior, and hormone concentration of Hy-Line W-36 laying hens, Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 31,1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japr.2022.100248

Pyrzak, R., Snapir, N., Goodman, G., & Perek, M. (1987). The effect of light wavelength on the production and quality of eggs of the domestic hen. Theriogenology, 28, 947–960. https://doi.org/10.1016/0093-691X(87)90045-8

Raziq, F., Jibran, H., Athar, M., & Javed, K. (2020). Effect of light-emitting diode (LED)-based colors on production performance and welfare of commercial layers. Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, 44, 14. https://doi.org/10.3906/vet-2007-30

Rauch, W. (1958). Verglerchende Untersuchungen Zur Qualitats Beurteilung Von Frischeiem. Archives für Geflugelkunde, 22, 74-104.

Shi, L., Sun, Y., Xu, H., Liu, Y., Li, Y., Huang, Z., Ni, A., Chen, C., Li, D., Wang, P., Fan, J., Ma, H., & Chen, J. (2020). Effect of age at photostimulation on sexual maturation and egg-laying performance of layer breeders. Poultry Science, 99, 812-819. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2019.12.027

Solangi, A.H., Rind, M.I., Solangi, A.A., Shahani, N.A., Rind, A.N. & Solangi, S.H. (2004). Influence of lighting on production and agonistic behaviour of broiler. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 3, 285-288.

SPSS Statistics for Windows 2011. Version 20.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.

Yang, Y.F., Jiang, J.S., Pan, J.M., Ying, Y.B., Wang, X.S., Zhang, M.L., Lu, M,S., & Chen, X.H, (2016). The relationship of spectral sensitivity with growth and reproductive response in avian breeders (Gallus gallus). Scientific Reports, 6,19291. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep19291

Yardım, Z., & Akşit, M. (2021). Kafes sistemi ve yerleşim sıklığının yumurta tavuklarının performansı, yumurta kalitesi ve yumurta kabuğunun mikrobiyal yükü üzerine etkisi. Türk Tarım – Gıda Bilim ve Teknoloji Dergisi, 9, 2004-2012. https://doi.org/10.24925/turjaf.v9i11.2004-2012.4649

Downloads

Published

22.03.2024

How to Cite

Tez, N., & Akşit, M. (2024). The Effect of Red and White LED Light on Performance, Egg Quality and Some Behavior Characteristics of Laying Hens Raised in Enriched Cages. Turkish Journal of Agriculture - Food Science and Technology, 12(3), 375–381. https://doi.org/10.24925/turjaf.v12i3.375-381.6298

Issue

Section

Research Paper