MANAGEMENT ▶▶▶
Using LED lighting in breeder production
Chickens can receive light not only through the eyes but also through the skull which then stimulates the hypothalamus and pineal glands. Red light can penetrate the skull to stimulate sexual development better than blue light which is at the opposite end of the light spectrum. This is the main reason why warm light, which favours the red end of the spectrum, is preferred during the egg production period.
BY WINFRIDUS BAKKER, COBB-VANTRESS O Bulb Natural light
LED Meter 1.500
Fluorescent 1.825 LED #1 < 3000K LED #2 < 3000K
20
0.640 1.445
ver the last few years LED light has proven to work as well as traditional light sources in bring- ing parent stock into production, with the advan- tage of its much lower energy cost. Compared to
incandescent lights, high-pressure sodium lights can reduce energy costs by 40% over a five year period. However, com- pact fluorescent and LED lights can reduce costs over a five year period by 63% and 73%, respectively. Currently, new light installations are primarily LED lamps/ tubes or strings due to their low energy consumption com- pared with other lamps, along with their long life span (>50,000 hours), dimming ability and adjustable colour out- put. They are also easy to wash, clean and disinfect, and have a high Ingress Protection value (IP; related to the level of dust and humidity penetration). The general recommendation in rearing and production is 2,700K (warm light) with a dim- ming system. Relative to cold light (6,000K) warm light tends to prevent floor eggs.
Table 1 – Differences in readings between LED and non-LED Lux Meters.
Other Lux Meter Difference (%) 1.250 1.670 0.505 1.300
20 9
27 11
▶ POULTRY WORLD | No. 7, 2020
Impact on breeder management LED lights have had a considerable impact on breeder man- agement. The introduction of dimmer units (dusk to dawn) have made it possible to work with low light intensity outputs of 1.5 to 2 lux but still see well enough to manage the birds. Some farm managers prefer non-dimmable LED lamps. In these cases, management is concerned that some staff mem- bers may change the settings which may dramatically affect the light susceptibility (refractory) of the birds towards the end of the rearing period. Therefore, on farms with dimmable LED units it is very important that the dimmers are not adjust- ed without specific authorisation from the livestock manager. Dimming ability is important during rearing to keep the birds calm. Running lights at a lower intensity also has a major im- pact on energy consumption. Installing a dimming system will have a major impact on the LEDs’ life span too, especially during the production period. LEDs also produce heat and the cooler they run, the longer they will last. The design and size of the heat sink in relation to the power unit is important, especially during hot weather (Figure 1). However, if lamps are dimmed to 70% of total capacity, there is very little heat emission thus increasing the life expectancy of the bulbs. Choosing a LED which is dimmable and has a maximum out- put of at least 100 lux enables the system to be dimmed to 70 lux during the production period. Linear dimmers with 1 V intervals work well. To create female light-sensitivity, rearing houses need to have light traps with light reduction factors >3,000,000 to achieve
PHOTO: PHILIP MALHERBE
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