AN EVALUATION OF THE THERMAL AND LUMINOUS ENVIRONMENT OF LAYING HEN AVIARIES EQUIPPED WITH LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE AND COMPACT FLUORESCENT LAMPS AND THEIR EFFECTS ON PRODUCTION AND EGG QUALITY

Priscilla A P Ribeiro,Tadayuki Yanagi Junior,Renato R De Lima,Lucas H P Abreu,Daniela D De Oliveira

doi:10.1590/1809-4430-eng.agric.v41n1p1-8/2021

Priscilla A P Ribeiro, Tadayuki Yanagi Junior + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1809-4430-eng.agric.v41n1p1-8/2021

Copy DOI

Abstract

The thermal and luminous conditions in aviaries affect the production and quality of eggs. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the thermal and luminous environment of commercial laying hen aviaries equipped with compact fluorescent (CF) and light-emitting diode (LED) lamps and their influence on egg production and quality. The study was carried out in two commercial laying hen facilities with similar construction features and management. The first facility was illuminated with CF lamps and the second with LED lamps. The thermal environment was assessed via air temperature, air relative humidity, and enthalpy. The evaluated lamps provided a similar thermal environment in both facilities. The aviary equipped with LED lamps showed higher illuminance than the one equipped with a CF lamp. Production performance was evaluated through feed intake (FI), feed conversion (FC), mortality (M), and laying percentage (LP). Specific gravity (SG) was used to evaluate eggshell quality. The variables related to production performance and eggshell quality of laying hens raised in aviaries equipped with LED lamps were statistically equal (F-test, p > 0.05) to those raised in aviaries equipped with CF lamps. These results indicate that the replacement of CF lamps with LED lamps does not adversely affect the yield and quality of eggs.

Highlights

There are several factors involved in the ideal environment for the production of eggs, such as air temperature, air relative humidity (RH), air velocity, air quality, and brightness and sound levels (Tinôco, 2001)
The values of tair and RH observed in the aviaries equipped with compact fluorescent (CF) and light-emitting diode (LED) lamps during the morning, afternoon, and night periods were statistically equal (Ftest, p > 0.05) (Table 1)
The effect of the lamps on the thermal environment could be disregarded once similar thermal behaviors were observed in both aviaries

Summary

Introduction

There are several factors involved in the ideal environment for the production of eggs, such as air temperature (tair), air relative humidity (RH), air velocity, air quality (concentration of gases such as NH3, O2, CO2, and dust), and brightness and sound levels (Tinôco, 2001). The environment of the intensive rearing system for laying hens directly influences the animal’s comfort. It is difficult to maintain the thermal balance within the premises, and this affects the expression of the natural behavior of birds, affecting their growth performance (Oliveira et al, 2014). Stress due to high environmental temperatures is a major cause of losses in the egg production industry. The imbalance in the thermal environment causes serious changes in the physiological system of the birds.

Objectives

Methods

Results