Lighting quality evaluation on growth performance and feather pecking behavior of broilers.

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Poultry Science
• Behavioral Biology

Background:

• Feather pecking is a significant welfare issue in poultry production.
• Light quality, specifically color, is hypothesized to influence poultry behavior and welfare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of different light colors (warm white, cold white, red) on broiler growth and welfare.
• To assess correlations between light color, growth performance, feather pecking indicators, and serotonin levels.

Main Methods:

• 120 Youhuang broilers were exposed to warm white, cold white, or red light for 4 weeks.
• Evaluated growth parameters (body weight, feed conversion, beak length) and welfare indicators (walking, plumage damage, serotonin).

Main Results:

• Light color did not significantly affect broiler growth performance.
• Cold white light increased daily walking steps at 8 weeks but did not significantly alter plumage damage compared to red light.
• Serotonin levels varied, with warm white showing higher levels than cold white but lower than red light.

Conclusions:

• Light color had no significant effect on the overall growth of Youhuang broilers.
• While light color influenced some welfare indicators, no significant correlations were found between growth, welfare parameters, and serotonin levels.
• Warm white light is suggested for broiler production to mitigate feather pecking due to its perceived user-friendliness and potential welfare benefits.