Lighting and Exposure System and Its Effect on Bird Health
One of the important and vital components in industrial poultry farming is the lighting system, exposure, and light distribution in the halls. In this regard, based on the dimensions of the hall and modern methods of keeping and breeding today, an optimal lighting system can be used, in which the number of lamps in the hall, their distance from each other, their distance from the side wall of the hall, their height from the finished floor of the hall, and the distance between the rows of lamps from each other are very important so that there is no blind spot in the entire hall. The important and key question that is very important is whether we use the lighting system only to provide light and the birds’ vision area, or can other important aspects in breeding be related to it?
In the early stages of the breeding period (first week), chicks need to identify their surroundings in order to meet their daily needs.
According to studies and research, appropriate light has a positive effect on the better growth of birds through some organs.
Light intensity is one of the important components in breeding systems because it can affect the nervous system of poultry.
The color of light and its duration can also have a positive effect on the optimal growth of poultry, as in the above cases.
What is the purpose of implementing a light restriction program (lighting system) in beef herds?
Reduce skeletal abnormalities and increase herd survival for slaughter
Improve feed efficiency
Achieve the desired and standard desired curve and adjust herd growth
Reduce cardiac mortality
Improve appetite
Increase the expression of genetic potential for improved conversion ratio
One of the major problems observed in poultry farms is the large number of lame birds, which causes the flock to become disorganized and disjointed. This can be due to several reasons, such as wet bedding, lack of minerals and reduced purity in the diet, as well as an inappropriate lighting system and light program in the flock. In this category, we will focus more on the light program. One of the major reasons for the development of lame chickens in the farms is an inappropriate light program. Of course, if you pay attention, most of the light programs in industrial poultry farms today are based on 20 hours of alternating light and 4 hours of darkness, which causes skeletal problems, leg problems, and dyschondroplasia. But is it possible that the light program is so important that it causes these problems? Relatively speaking, the greatest skeletal growth of birds occurs in the bone area of the thigh and lower leg in the first weeks of raising chickens. Of course, it should not be forgotten that the role of hormones in the development of living organisms is very vital, among which the hormone melatonin can be mentioned, which has a significant effect on bone growth. Melatonin is a hormone that is secreted in the dark and acts as a stimulant of bone tissue.
Arrangement of lamps and how to distribute light in the house
The arrangement of light in the poultry farm is very important for effective management and sustainable production potential. The lamps should be placed in a suitable range to spread the maximum amount of light over the largest area. This depends on the physical dimensions and equipment available in the breeding house.
1. Light intensity
As you know, light intensity has a significant impact on the life of birds. In the first week of breeding (0-7 days of age), we should consider high light intensity for the birds so that the chicks get used to the new conditions. This light intensity is usually considered to be 20 lux and continuous in the United States and European countries. After the first week and the chicks get used to the space of the breeding house, the light intensity of the drinkers and feeders is reduced to 5 to 10 lux in order to reduce the movement of the chicks and improve growth. 1 watt for 1 to 1.5 birds or in 0.28 square meters. 40 watt lamp for 9.3 square meters. Lamp height: 2 meters above the floor and the distance between the two lamps should be 2.5 meters to 3 meters. The lower lamp should be 1.8-2.0 meters from the ground and the upper lamp should be 0.2-0.4 meters from the top of the poultry house.
2. Light color
As we know, each color of light has a specific wavelength, which can play an important role in the optimal production of birds. Based on the same theory, it can be said that the wavelength of light may also affect the immunity of broiler chickens. In a study that was conducted, blue, green, red and white lights were compared with each other and it was found that the proliferation of T lymphocytes in chickens raised under short-wavelength lights (blue and green) was higher and higher antibody production was produced than in chickens raised under light with a longer wavelength (red).
3. Duration of exposure
Lighting programs play a role in stimulating and controlling feed intake and skeletal development of broilers and increase the survival of birds by reducing sudden death syndrome, leg problems and controlling ascites. The important point is what type of lamp should we consider for the lighting system of the halls that can meet the lighting needs of the poultry? And the second question is whether the use of dimmers in the halls can help improve the performance of the poultry? To answer the two questions above, we must consider the facilities of the breeding hall and take action later. For the type of lamp used in the halls, a type of them should be used that can be used to reduce the light. Of course, whenever we cannot use a dimmer to reduce the light, we can reduce the number of lamps in the hall by one every other day and after a while, two every other day.
