There are four types of lights that can be used in poultry production. Dr. Ramiro Hernán Delgado, Technical Director of Nutriavícola in Cali, Colombia, spoke during the Technical Seminar to Maximize Poultry Industry Efficiency, in Spanish, which was held preliminary to the IPPE at Atlanta, on the impact of lights on egg production.
Delgado said incandescent bulbs are ideal because of the light spectrum, but extremely inefficient in light production, as well as producing a lot of heat.
Sodium vapor lamps are more efficient, but the light spectrum is yellow.
Fluorescent bulbs have the disadvantage of being easily soiled within the farm, as they have more contact surface where dust and dirt are deposited.
Finally, are the LED lights, some of which have warm light, and already have a high level of infrared rays. According to studies in Colombia, LED lamps have the advantage that up to four more eggs can be obtained per housed hen in egg production.
When choosing the type of bulbs used in poultry production houses, there are several aspects that need to be taken into account. These are economic factors — in terms of cost per kilowatt — or uniformity with respect to bulbs placement. To do this, it is necessary to get advice of experts in lighting.
Another aspect to be taken into account is flickering, which, depending on the type of bulb and the light spectrum, would correspond to “having birds like in a continuous disco,” which generates tremendous stress, with negative implications for egg production.
In terms of spectrum, Delgado recommended green and cold blue for broiler chickens. However, for laying or breeding hens red spectrum is better, so that they lay eggs or egg size can be manipulated. The recommendation for LED lights is warm or yellow, which is the best for poultry production. The last aspect to consider is the environment, for which LED lights are the most recommended.
