Poultry
Both Broiler and egg production can be improved by optimising the welfare needs of the chickens while minimising running costs. Lighting intensity and spectral quality play a significant role in control of a chickens’s reproductive cycle and its overall growth and performance. The cost of production can be reduced through installation of a well-designed and efficient LED lighting system.
Chickens and Light
Birds perceive light differently from humans, not only through their eyes but through photoreceptors deep in their brains. Chickens detect and respond to different wavelengths of light in a way that can profoundly change behavior and affect development.
Light directly affects hormonal secretion in the pineal gland and the hypothalamus which in turn controls both circadian rhythms and seasonal growth and sexual reproduction.
Light directly affects hormonal secretion in the pineal gland and the hypothalamus which in turn controls both circadian rhythms and seasonal growth and sexual reproduction.
Another key difference between birds and humans is the way they perceive and respond to differing wavelengths of light even outside the visual range of humans. Importantly chickens evolved as daytime foragers under jungle foliage and are tetrachromic, having at least 4 daytime, colour-sensing cone cells in the eyes, compared to 3 in humans. It has been found that while blue light has a calming effect on birds, blue-green light encourages growth, while orange-red stimulates the reproductive cycle.
Most importantly at least one of the cone cell types is specifically designed to sense short-wave violet light including near Ultra Violet light (UVa). This is important for foraging and feeding where the UV reflectance of different feed types will affect finding feed and its acceptance.
The signalling and communication role of UV perception is also important in chickens. Reflectance of UV from plumage, especially from sexually different or species-specific plumage will reveal important colour variations which are undetectable to the human eye. The ability to recognise colour cues, only visible in the presence of UV light, will affect mate-choice decisions, inter and intra-specific behavioural interactions and most likely impact the overall well-being and therefore welfare of the bird under production conditions.
The signalling and communication role of UV perception is also important in chickens. Reflectance of UV from plumage, especially from sexually different or species-specific plumage will reveal important colour variations which are undetectable to the human eye. The ability to recognise colour cues, only visible in the presence of UV light, will affect mate-choice decisions, inter and intra-specific behavioural interactions and most likely impact the overall well-being and therefore welfare of the bird under production conditions.
Most current lighting strategies in poultry farming waste energy and are sub-optimal for the welfare of the livestock. Inefficient technology with inadequate spectral quality and other unsuitable characteristics means the light technology currently used in most production installations needs updating. Incandescent and high-intensity discharge lamps, the only option for poultry farmers for decades, were energy inefficient, had a short lifespan, while their narrow spectrum could never meet the poultry’s industry needs.
Fluorescent tubes, the most widely used form of lighting in layer production, while more energy efficient, cheaper and longer lasting, nonetheless still waste much of their energy as unusable long wavelength light and heat, and are very expensive to control in terms of dimming. What’s more white fluorescent lamps do not emit significant levels of UV light and while there is enough short-wave light initially to benefit layers, the phosphors degrade with time further weakening blue spectral output potentially causing behavioural problems and threatening overall poultry performance. There is also the potential for harm from mercury amalgam used in the manufacture of fluorescent lamps. If damaged in situ there is a risk of mercury contamination of food and bedding. All current lighting types are limited in terms of emitting sufficient energy in the important wavelengths (colours) perceived by the chickens via its complex photo-receptors in both their eyes and brains.
Fluorescent tubes, the most widely used form of lighting in layer production, while more energy efficient, cheaper and longer lasting, nonetheless still waste much of their energy as unusable long wavelength light and heat, and are very expensive to control in terms of dimming. What’s more white fluorescent lamps do not emit significant levels of UV light and while there is enough short-wave light initially to benefit layers, the phosphors degrade with time further weakening blue spectral output potentially causing behavioural problems and threatening overall poultry performance. There is also the potential for harm from mercury amalgam used in the manufacture of fluorescent lamps. If damaged in situ there is a risk of mercury contamination of food and bedding. All current lighting types are limited in terms of emitting sufficient energy in the important wavelengths (colours) perceived by the chickens via its complex photo-receptors in both their eyes and brains.
Chickens as daytime foragers are very sensitive to minute changes in light and the low 100Hz flicker rate of even modern fluorescent lighting is lower than the maximum or Critical Flicker Frequency (CFF) reported as detectable by some chickens which may be stressful at different stages of development. All dimming frequencies used are specified well above 200 Hz as a minimum - it is usually upwards of 1kHz.
Featured Products
Broilers and Layers
The same industry issues affect both broiler and layer birds - both types of chicken need light to be able to feed, to stimulate their internal cycles, and initiate the release of sex hormones. Without the right light, hens will not grow properly or lay eggs all year round. The technology is now available for us to tailor the light spectrum to the visual and biological needs of the animal.
For Broilers, our Biolumen Series 500 Blue lighting includes NUV to cater to the ultraviolet needs of the birds, as well as our patented Nature Perfect blue LED technology which is comfortable for humans to work under, but also perfectly placed to improve birds’ visual acuity as well as entrain hormonal processes with the use of proper control of light/dark periods.
The Biolumen Series 500 Red has been specifically designed for Layers, and also includes NUV, but this time with some red to stimulate sexual maturity and improve egg production. This red is carefully balanced to minimise aggression amongst flocks.
Poultry and Light
Animals experience light differently to humans. Birds are tetrachromatic, meaning that they have three types of cone cells in their eye which are sensitive to specific colours like humans, but that they also have a fourth type that is sensitive to ultraviolet light.
They use this to recognise each other via the UV light reflecting from their plumage. As with most complex organisms, blue light is also used by birds to derive their hormone cycles from the length of day and night. Red light also has an effect on hormone cycles; particularly with regards to sexual maturity and egg production.
Further to the above, poultry have high flicker sensitivities and so lighting needs to be operated at either a very high frequency or constant voltage.
The Biolumen Solution
AquaRay® uses the latest in LED technology to
deliver smooth spectrum light which is tailored to
suit the needs of both humans and livestock.
Using only branded LED components from the likes of Cree, Osram and Samsung, AquaRay® ensures a high quality, efficient light, backed up with a 3 year
guarantee on light units
AquaRay’s® patented NP technology provides a unique spectrum of light that is in tune with the biological needs of your livestock.
Combined with diurnal and seasonal lighting control, the specific spectrum helps to entrain the animals’ internal clocks, therefore regulating hormone production and improving wellbeing
The rugged housing is hand built in the UK using
ABS, acrylic and aluminum components.
It is shockproof and water-proof (independently tested to IP67) and the lights can withstand low temperatures and pressure washing Designed & Made in Br
With a 120° beam angle, the spread of light is even, and it is directed only where it needs to be.
The AquaRay® BioLumen Control offers programming of diurnal and seasonal lighting patterns based either on longitude and latitude, or by user set parameters.
It is easy to use, and through automatic timing and dimming, it allows accurate reproduction of natural lighting environments, reducing the risk of startling livestock and increasing productivity through better husbandry.
All AquaRay® lights are compatible with the MMS modular mounting system, which enables them to be mounted in almost any situation.
Case studies
Agriculture
Finisher Case Study - UK Based Test Farm
Biolumen Series 500 lighting technology is shown to improve pig welfare by reducing vice and improving feeding. Ultimately an improvement in FCR results in a 14 month return on investment even before taking electricity savings into account.
Agriculture
Broiler Case Study - Lower Oakley Farm, Somerset
Biolumen Nature Perfect lighting technology is shown to improve bird welfare by reducing vice and improving feeding. Ultimately an improvement in FCR results in a 19 month return on investment even before taking electricity savings into account.
The broiler house was compared to an identical unit with traditional lighting in place.
Agriculture
Free Range Layer Hen Case Study - Rymer Farm, Suffolk
Biolumen lighting technology is shown to improve hen welfare by reducing instances of aggression and feather pecking. Improved egg mass was observed as well as a reduction in mortality.
House 1 was installed with Biolumen lighting and House 2 was installed with competitor’s induction LED system. The trial ran for a full batch (13 months).
We would love to hear from you!
Have questions or need assistance? Reach out to us anytime, and we’ll be happy to help!
Or by using the chat feature embedded on our website.
We look forward to hearing from you.