Red-green or full-spectrum white LEDs have no effects on incubation or post-hatch production variables in broilers

Abstract

SUMMARY: Light plays a vital role in the visual perception, development, and welfare of birds. Since the advent of LED lights, numerous studies have attempted to obtain the effects of lighting on developing embryos, with quite mixed results. Several studies have agreed, however, that red and green lights have beneficial effects on broilers. Further, new evidence has suggested the importance of ultraviolet light in birds. Our study was designed to examine whether red-green lights or full-spectrum white lights placed in incubators would benefit the production or welfare of broilers. To accomplish this goal, fertilized eggs were obtained from a commercial hatchery. Eggs were placed in incubators that contained control (dark), white light (380–715 nm), or a combination of green (510–540 nm) and red (625–640 nm) LEDs. To determine the effects of these lights on production parameters, we measured prehatch and posthatch development, production variables, and posthatch welfare. Welfare was determined using an isolation fear test to measure length of vocalizations. None of the variables measured during the study showed any significant (P < 0.05) effects. Our results suggest that although light plays a critical role in posthatch development and reproductive status, its effects on embryonic tissue and subsequent posthatch performance and welfare remain to be elucidated.

Keywords

• incubation
• LED
• embryonic growth
• posthatch performance
• fear
• welfare