Light intensity and uniformity in commercial broiler houses using lighting programs derived from Global Animal Partnership (GAP) lighting standards

Abstract

Global Animal Partnership (GAP) is an organization that has created alternative standards for raising commercial broilers, including elevated light intensity and provisions for natural light. The objectives of this study were to compare light intensity levels and spatial uniformity in the following treatments derived from GAP lighting standards: 1) light intensity from natural and artificial sources greater than 50 lx (NL 1% +LED), and 2) natural light only provided through an opening equal or greater than 1.0% of total floor area (NL 1% ). Light intensity was also measured in a house using a traditional LED lighting program (LED) for comparison. Light intensity was spatially measured at a fixed point in time (static) for the NL 1% +LED, NL 1% , and LED treatments and then temporally measured in three house sections (pad, mid, and fan) over a 24 h period. Overall static mean light intensity was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the NL 1% +LED and NL 1% treatments than the LED treatment, and most dissimilar in the mid house section (LED=2.8 lx, NL 1% +LED=95.4 lx, NL 1% =77.1 lx). Seventy-nine percent and 53% of the floor area in the NL 1% +LED and NL 1% treatments were above 50 lx, the target light intensity set by GAP. Light uniformity was best in the pad and mid sections of the LED treatment. Temporal testing showed at mid house that light intensity was most influenced by natural light and that daily averages were 23 times higher in the NL 1% treatment (NL 1% =46.0 lx; LED = 2.0 lx). GAP derived lighting programs resulted in markedly different lighting environments compared to traditional programs.