Effects of different light sources on performance, immunity, histopathology, and economic efficiency of broiler...

The current research assessed the impact of various light sources on growth performance, immune response, lymphoid organ histopathology, and economic efficiency in broiler chickens within practical production conditions. A total of 180-day-old Cobb 500 broiler chicks were randomly divided into three treatment groups, each consisting of four replicates of 15 birds, and were raised for 42 days under incandescent (ICD; 60 W), compact fluorescent lamp (CFL; 30 W), and light-emitting diode (LED; 9 W) lighting systems. All birds were kept under uniform feeding and management conditions. Growth performance metrics were recorded on a weekly basis. The immune status was evaluated through serum immunoglobulin (IgA, IgG, IgM), Newcastle disease virus (NDV) antibody titres, and the heterophil-to-lymphocyte (H: L) ratio. A histopathological examination of lymphoid organs was also conducted. The data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey's post-hoc test. Birds raised under LED lighting exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) higher body weight, improved feed conversion ratios, enhanced immunoglobulin levels, higher NDV titres, and a lower H: L ratio in comparison to the ICD and CFL groups. Histopathological findings revealed well-developed lymphoid structures in birds treated with LED lighting. The economic analysis indicated reduced electricity costs and increased net returns associated with LED lighting. In conclusion, various lighting systems affect growth performance, immune response, and economic efficiency in broiler chickens, with LED lighting exhibiting superior overall performance under the conditions of this investigation.