Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T13:23:01.320Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Light intensity preferences of broiler chickens: implications for welfare

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 May 2019

M. Raccoursier ,
Y. V. Thaxton ,
K. Christensen ,
D. J. Aldridge  and
C. G. Scanes Open the ORCID record for C. G. Scanes [Opens in a new window]
M. Raccoursier
Affiliation:
Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, 1260 W. Maple, POSC0-114, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
Y. V. Thaxton
Affiliation:
Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, 1260 W. Maple, POSC0-114, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA Center for Food Animal Wellbeing, University of Arkansas, 1260 W. Maple, POSC0-114, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
K. Christensen
Affiliation:
Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, 1260 W. Maple, POSC0-114, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
D. J. Aldridge
Affiliation:
Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, 1260 W. Maple, POSC0-114, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
C. G. Scanes*
Affiliation:
Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, 1260 W. Maple, POSC0-114, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
*
†E-mail: cscanes@uark.edu
Get access

Abstract

There is considerable debate as to the optimal light intensities for growing chickens. This is influencing regulations and industry practices. The present study examines the preference of broiler chickens for light intensity. A choice system was developed to allow determination of the preferences of broiler chickens for light intensity. This system had three light proof pens each with feeders or waterers but different light intensities. There was a connecting transit pen with a light intensity of 1 to 2 lux. This allowed birds access to the pens each with feeders or waterers. There were markedly more chickens observed in the pens each with feeders or waterers and a light intensity of 20 lux than 5 lux. Moreover, more feed was consumed in the 20 lux pens than 5 pens. There were also high numbers of chickens in the transit compartment with its low light intensity (1 to 2 lux) and no feeders or waterers. Broiler chickens exhibited a preference for 20 lux light intensity for feeding compared to 5 lux light intensity. The present study supports the view that there should be a light intensity of at least 20 lux for the areas around the feeders and also suggests that light intensity may be reduced in other areas for resting and other activities.

Keywords

Illuminationlevelchoicemeat fowl
Type
Research Article
Information
animal , Volume 13 , Issue 12 , December 2019 , pp. 2857 - 2863
Copyright
© The Animal Consortium 2019 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

a

Present Address: Tyson Foods, Springdale, AR 72762, USA.

References

Alsam, H and Wathes, CM 1991. Conjoint preferences of chicks for heat and light intensity. British Poultry Science 32, 899–916.10.1080/00071669108417417CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Alvino, GM, Blatchford, RA, Archer, GS and Mench, JA 2009. Light intensity during rearing affects the behavioural synchrony and resting patterns of broiler chickens. British Poultry Science 50, 275–283.10.1080/00071660902942775CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Appleby, MC, McRae, HE and Pietz, BE 1983/1984. The effect of light on the choice of nests by domestic hens. Applied Animal Ethology 11, 249–254.10.1016/0304-3762(84)90031-2CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blatchford, RA, Klasing, KC, Shivaprasad, HL, Wakenell, PS, Archer, GS and Mench, JA 2009. The effect of light intensity on the behavior, eye and leg health, and immune function of broiler chickens. Poultry Science 88, 20–28.10.3382/ps.2008-00177CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Buyse, J, Adelsohn, DS, Decuypere, E and Scanes, CG 1993. Diurnal-nocturnal changes in food intake, gut storage of ingesta, food transit time and metabolism in growing broiler chickens: a model for temporal control of energy balance. British Poultry Science 34, 699–709.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buyse, J, Simons, PSM, Boshouwers, FMG and Decuypere, E 1996. Effect of intermittent blighting, light intensity and source on the performance and welfare of broilers. World’s Poultry Science Journal 52, 121–130.10.1079/WPS19960012CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Collins, LM and Sumpter, DJT 2007. The feeding dynamics of broiler chickens. Journal of the Royal Society Interface 4, 65–72.10.1098/rsif.2006.0157CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chui, PS, Lauber, JK and Kinnear, A 1975. Dimensional and physiological lesions in the chick eye as influenced by the light environment. Proceeding of the Society of Experimental Biology and Medicine 148, 1223–1228.10.3181/00379727-148-38721CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Davis, NJ, Prescott, NB, Savory, CJ and Wathes, CM 1999. Preferences of growing fowls for different light intensities in relation to age, strain and behaviour. Animal Welfare 8, 193–203.Google Scholar
Dawkins, MS, Donnelly, CA, Jones, TA 2004. Chicken welfare is influenced more by housing conditions than by stocking density. Nature 427, 342–344.10.1038/nature02226CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Deep, A, Schwean-Lardner, K, Crowe, TG, Fancher, BI and Classen, HL 2010. Effect of light intensity on broiler production, processing characteristics, and welfare. Poultry Science 89, 2326–2333.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Deep, A, Raginski, C, Schwean-Lardner, K, Fancher, BI and Classen, HL 2013. Minimum light intensity threshold to prevent negative effects on broiler production and welfare. British Poultry Science 54, 686–694.10.1080/00071668.2013.847526CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
DEFRA. 2018 A code of practice for the welfare of meat chickens and breeding chickens. Retrieved on 4 March 2019 from https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/694013/meat-chicken-code-march2018.pdfGoogle Scholar
European Commission. 2000. The welfare of chickens kept for meat production (broilers). Retrieved on 3 April 2019 from http://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/docs/aw_arch_2005_broilers_scientific_opinion_en.pdfGoogle Scholar
European Union 2007. Council Directive 2007/43/EC laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production. Retrieved on 3 April 2019 from = = http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32007L0043&from=ENGoogle Scholar
Febrer, K, Jones, TA, Donnelly, CA and Dawkins, MS 2006. Forced to crowd, or choosing to cluster? Spatial distribution measures social attraction and aversion in broiler chickens. Animal Behaviour 72, 1291–1300.10.1016/j.anbehav.2006.03.019CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hughes, BO 1971. Allelometric feeding in the domestic fowl. British Poultry Science 12, 359–366.10.1080/00071667108415891CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Keeling, LJ 1994. Inter-bird distances and behavioural priorities in laying hens: the effect of spatial restriction. Applied Animal Behavior Science 39, 131–140.10.1016/0168-1591(94)90133-3CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Keeling, LJ and Duncan, IJH 1991. Social spacing in domestic fowl under seminatural conditions: the effect of behavioural activity and activity transitions. Applied Animal Behavior Science 32, 205–217.10.1016/S0168-1591(05)80044-9CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lewis, PS, Perry, GC and Sherwin, CM 1998. Effect of photoperiod and light intensity on the performance of intact male turkeys. Animal Science 66, 759–767.10.1017/S1357729800009358CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lien, RJ, Hess, JB, McKee, SR, Bilgili, SF and Townsend, JC 2007. Effect of light intensity and photoperiod on live performance, heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and processing yields of broilers. Poultry Science 86, 1287–1293.10.1093/ps/86.7.1287CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lundberg, AS and Keeling, LJ 2003. Social effects on dustbathing behaviour in laying hens: using video images to investigate effect of rank. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 81, 43–57.10.1016/S0168-1591(02)00239-3CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Newberry, RC, Hunt, JR and Gardiner, EE 1986. The influence of light intensity on behavior, leg disorders and sudden death syndrome of chickens. Poultry Science 65, 2232–2238.10.3382/ps.0652232CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Oishi, T and Murakami, N 1985. Effects of duration and intensity of illumination on several parameters of the chick eye. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A 81, 319–323.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Olanrewaju, HA, Purswell, JL, Collier, SD and Branton, SL 2011. Effect of varying light intensity on growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens grown to heavy weights. International Journal of Poultry Science 10, 921–926.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Prayitno, DS, Phillips, CJC and Stokes, DK 1997. The effects of color and intensity of light on behavior and leg disorders in broiler chickens. Poultry Science 76, 1674–1681.10.1093/ps/76.12.1674CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Prescott, NB and Wathes, CM 2002. Preferences and motivation of laying hens to eat under different illuminances and the effect of illuminance on eating behavior. British Poultry Science 43, 190–195.10.1080/00071660120121382CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Senaratna, D, Samarakone, TS, Madusanka, AAP and Gunawardane, WWDA 2012. Preference of broiler chicken for different light colors in relation to age, session of the day and behavior. Tropical Agricultural Research 23, 193–203.10.4038/tar.v23i3.4657CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Senaratna, D, Samarakone, TS and Gunawardane, WWDA 2014. Preference for different intensities of red light as affected by the age, temporal variation and behaviour of broiler birds. Tropical Agricultural Research 25, 146–157.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
UK Government 2007. Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007. Retrieved on 3 April 2019 from http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/2078/contents/madeGoogle Scholar
Webster, AB and Hurnik, JF 1994. Synchronization of behaviour among laying hens in battery cages. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 40, 153–165.10.1016/0168-1591(94)90079-5CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Weeks, CA, Danbury, TD, Davies, HC, Hunt, P and Kestin, SC 2000. The behaviour of broiler chickens and its modification by lameness. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 67, 111–125.10.1016/S0168-1591(99)00102-1CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed