Gregoy Bedecarrats and Mikayla BaxterAnimal and Poultry Science

University of Guelph

The right light for the right application (impact on production, welfare ect…)◦ Spectrum?◦ Dimming ability (dawn to dusk programs)◦ Stable output (power fluctuations; dirty power)

Durability◦ Initial cost / longevity◦ Withstand harsh barn environments (dust, humidity,

amonia)◦ Withstand repeated cleaning and disinfection cycles

(pressure wash, harsh corrosive agents)

1. Incandescent

2. CFL

3. LED

4. Spectrum

5. Other

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

21%

11%

3%1%

64%

1) Eye (retina):UV, blue, green, red opsinsTo brain via optic nerve

2)Pineal gland:On top of brain, produces melatonin“pinopsin”: hybrid between rhodopsin and green opsin

3)Hypothalamus:deep brain tissueLots of red opsins but also UV, blue and green

Photosensitive pigments (opsins) excited by specific light wavelengths

Prescott & Wathes (1999). Brit. Poult. Sci. 40: 332-339

Incandescent

Fluorescent

Day light

Green / Blue (and yellow) lights best for growth◦ Shown to stimulate muscle cell proliferation and

growth

◦ Shown to benefit gut development and feed conversion

◦ Potentially helps immune response (gut mucosa)

Red light best for reproduction◦ Activation of the reproductive axis

◦ Higher and longer peak of lay

Our Research Part I:Effect of Light Wavelength on Reproduction – Retinal versus extra-retinal photoreceptors

Published in: Baxter et al. (2014). Poultry Science 93:1289-1297

3 optically isolated sections with LED strip lights

Intensities adjusted to 10 lux at hens level

Smoky Joe hens (blind and sighted) used to evaluate the role of the retina of the eye

At 15 weeks, LEDs lights on 8 h photoperiod

At 20 weeks, Photostim with a 14 h photoperiod

Group / Status Age at first egg (d)

All Reds 165.9 ± 1.3

Blind Reds164.4 ± 1.0

Sighted Reds167.8 ± 2.6

All Whites 166.8 ± 1.1

Blind Whites166.8 ± 1.7

Sighted Whites166.8 ± 1.2

All Green 189.6 ± 2.4

Blind Greens191.0 ± 3.5

Sighted Greens188.3 ± 3.3

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24Age (weeks)

Estr

ad

iol

(ng

/ml) Blind and sighted

combined(p<0.05)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24Age (weeks)

Blind (closed circles)

sighted (open circles)

Estr

ad

iol

(ng

/ml)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

22 26 30 34 38 42 46 50 54 58 62 66

%Pro

ducti

on

Age (weeks)

Egg production over 43 weeks

RED

GREEN

WHITE

Group Cumulative egg number

Red 190.3 ± 0.2A

White 180.2 ± 0.2A

Green 140.5 ± 0.3B

Inhibitory effect of green via the retina?

In Smoky Joe hens maintained in cages:◦ Red light promotes an early, strong stimulation of

the ovary (reproductive axis), a longer and higher peak production

◦ Green light failed to mediate photostimulation, may inhibit reproduction via the retina

Our fancy LED light system did not handle a barn environment!

1. Yes

2. No

1. 2.

62%

38%

Confirmed the biology behind spectrum lighting in layers

High cost so not yet commercially viable

Serves as proof of concept for the next steps:◦ Need to confirm results on commercial strains

◦ Need to test on alternative production systems

◦ Design a light that can withstand a commercial barn environment

◦ Need to design an affordable product

Initial contact with Eric Thiesled to the design of a first prototype◦ 60% red, 20% green, 20% blue ◦ Fully dimmable◦ Withstand barn environment?◦ Low cost to install (easy barn

retrofit)

3 rooms with LED light bulbs (pure red, pure green, our 60% red), with 6 pens each (3 next boxes, 1 bell feeder)

Lohmann LSL lite transferred at 14 weeks of age (8 hens / pen)

10h photoperiod until 18 weeks then 14h (lights on @ 7 AM)

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5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

15 16 17 18

% P

roducti

on

Age (Weeks)

White

Red

Green

(60 % red)

1. No

2. A few

3. Yes – it’s a real problem

1. 2. 3.

24% 22%

54%

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

13 15 17 19 21 23E2

Co

nc

en

tra

tio

n (

ng

/ml)

Age (weeks)

Estradiol Levels

0

20

40

60

80

100

15 19 23 27 31 35 39 43 47 51 55 59 63

Pro

du

cti

on

(%

)

Age (Weeks)

Overall, no difference

7%

48%33%

12%

LED-R: Average Time Egg Layed

Before 7

7am-9am

9am-11am

After 11

46%

39%

14%1%

Green: Average Time Egg Layed

Before 7

7am-9am

9am-11am

After 11

7%

52%34%

7%

Red: Average Time Egg Layed

Before 7

7am-9am

9am-11am

After 11

No difference in levels of corticosterone

Green light stimulated pecking at placement.

No effect of light wavelength on aggression afterward

No significant difference in time budget observed between light treatments

Effect of Different Light Bulbs on Commercial Hens in Individual

Cages

Set Up: 3 rooms equipped with LED-R, CFL or

Incandescent light

Birds: Lohmann LSL Lite Light & Photoperiod:

◦ Set at 10 lux

◦ Until 13 woa = incandescent 9 h

◦ 14-18 woa = light treatment 10 h

◦ 18 woa = step up lighting to 14 h Parameters:

◦ Reproduction

◦ Growth / feed consumption

◦ Hydro Consumption

Photostimulation

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

14 18 22 26 30 34 38 42 46 50 54 58 62 66

Egg P

roducti

on (%

)

Age (weeks)

Inca CFL LED-R

1. Less than 52 weeks

2. Between 52-55 weeks

3. Longer than 55 weeks

1. 2. 3.

14%

36%

50%

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

14 19 24 29 34 39 44 49 54 59 64 69 74

[Estr

ad

iol] (n

g/m

l)

Age (weeks)

Inca CFL LED-R

Photostimulation

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

120

14 24 34 44 54 64

Consum

pti

on (g)/

bir

d/day

Age (weeks)

Feed Consumption

Inca CFL LED-R

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2

14 22 30 38 46 54 62 70

Weig

ht

(kg)

Age (weeks)

Body Weight (kg)

Inca CFL LED-R

1. Not very

2. Medium

3. Very

4. Dependent on the cost of the new bulbs

1. 2. 3. 4.

3%

24%

58%

14%

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

14 18 23 28 33 38 43 48 53 58 63 68

Cum

ula

tive E

nerg

y (K

w/h)

Age (weeks)

Inca CFL LED-R

Lohmann LSL lite◦ Unexpected early sexual maturation (before

photostimulation): pullet management issue

◦ High rate of production – extended peak beyond 90% all the way through

◦ Very efficient – low feed consumption

◦ Very calm birds – low stress levels

How much can be improved? Statistical significance versus practical significance

Dykstra's Poultry Farm (Thornton, ON)

New barn with colony cages (45,000 hens). 6 rows, 3 tiers

Equipped with our 60 % red LED first prototype

Lohmann LSL-Lite

Lohmann’s directives

Dawn to Dusk program

Bulbs not certified! Provided at cost

Funding not secured = no student, no data collection

Barn equipment (feeders, belts, heating, ventilation, controllers) never tested

Modification: dark outs mounted on vents

Peak of lay: 96.2 % at 22 woa

Ship out at 72 woa, still at 90 %

Flock average: 342.5 eggs over 365 days (raw data not corrected for mortality)

No noticeable impact on egg quality

90 % energy savings when compared to 60 W incandescent

Light controller not ideal for LEDs (need to be changed)

Dust and water infiltration inside the bulbs

Need to go back to the drawing board for construction!

Dust caking between the fins of the heat-sink

Funding secured (OMAFRA, PIC, CPRC, AAFC poultry cluster funding).

Student in charged

Full data collection and analyses set up

Compensation agreement with producer in place (pays for the dark outs)

New generation of bulbs designed with a sealed cast aluminum housing unit and silicone sealed lens. CSA certification underway!

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19 23 27 31 35 39 43 47 51 55 59 63 67

% P

rod

ucti

on

Age (weeks)

Flock 1

Lohmann Average

Flock Average (52 Wks): 336 eggsCorrected for mortality (344 raw data)

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

18 21 24 27 30 33 36 39 42 45 48 51 54 57 60 63 66 69

E2

Con

centr

ati

on (n

g/m

l)

Age (weeks)

Estradiol

85

87

89

91

93

95

97

99

20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64 68

Con

sum

er

gra

de (%

)

Age (weeks)

Percentage of Consumer Grade Eggs

Lohmann top average value for this strain: 330 eggs for 52 weeks

With 336 average, this represents a 2 % increase.

With a 42,000 hens flock: gain of 271,000 total eggs (22,655 dozen).

At $1.90 paid per dozen, this can provide potential returns of $43,044

2 % not statistically significant with an experimental flock but financially significant at the farm gate!

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Con

sum

pti

on (g

/ib

rd/day)

Months

Feed Consumption

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2

19 24 29 34 39 44 49 54 59 64 69

Weig

ht

(kg

)

Age (weeks)

Body Weight

Row 2

Row 4

Bulb Type: For

Power Output

Kwused in

14 Hr.Day

Total Kw over 365

Days

Approx.Cost/ Yr.

($0.117 per kWh for ON.,

excl. HST)

Potential$$

Savings

Incandescent 60w 235.2 85,848 $10,044.

CFL(Compact Fluorescent)

14w 54.9 20,031 $2,344. $7,700.

LED 10w 39.2 14,308 $1,674. $8,370.

Performed as expected. No dust infiltration

Industrial cleaning and disinfection performed by third party using high pressure wash◦ Direct hit on the bulb: no problem

◦ Second day, ceiling cleaning: water infiltration

◦ Where did it come from? How?

Water came down the pigtail and entered through the button!◦ This was the only part not thought of

◦ Only field trials in a commercial operation could have detected that issue

Signs of rust

Vast majority of LED bulbs designed for human use; not tested in barns or on poultry◦ Right output?◦ Durability?

A few bulbs were designed for poultry◦ Does 1 bulb fits all applications?

You pay for what you get◦ Dimmable◦ Durability◦ Cost versus return on investment

The right product will pay for itself within a year on energy savings. Within 6 months when production is increased by 2 %.

Research done in Israel with BB in cages:◦ Shows similar results as ours (red best)

◦ Stimulates maturation and increase production

We tried in floor pens with both sex◦ Problems with pullets (huge weight variation)

◦ Cocci outbreak at our facility

◦ Inconclusive results

The key is weight management in pullets!◦ Ongoing collaboration with UoA

◦ Combine precision feeding with precision lighting

Research shows green followed by blue is best to stimulate muscle growth

Genetics pushed so far that some producers need to slow them down

The key will be on gut development and physiology, and on immune system◦ Mature gut = better feed efficiency (lower cost)

◦ Better immune response in the mucosa = needed when antimicrobials banned

Problem: genetics move faster than research!

Another layer crop currently followed

CSA/UL certified

Rated IP66

Construction has been fully tested from top to bottom

Energy Star was a problem but undergoing stringent certification by Manitoba Hydro to qualify for retrofit energy programs

Available for sale under AgriLux TM

More info: www.agrilux.ca

1. Gave me information I was wanting

2. Gave good information, but I can not use it currently

3. Made me rethink how I will be lighting my barns

4. Was not useful for me

1. 2. 3. 4.

39%

1%

47%

14%

Alex (and Eric) Thies (ThiesElectrical Distributing Inc.)

Douglas (and Leo) Dykstra (Dykstra’s Poultry Farm)

Mikayla Baxter and all the other students

Financial support: PIC, CPRC, OMAFRA, NSERC, AAFC

Points Participant Points Participant

0 56D729

0 576663

0 597CAB

0 597CF1

0 597CF4