Evaluation of broiler performance reared under monochromatic light emitting diode (LED) tubes vis-a-vis incandescent light supplemental lighting

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different monochromatic LED lights on the performance of broiler chickens. A total of 120 day-old Lohmann Meat (Indian River) broiler chicks were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: incandescent light (control), red LED light and white LED light, with each group consisting of four replicates of 10 chicks. The chicks exposed to LED lighting showed higher average live weight and live weight gain compared to the control group, while no significant differences (P>0.05) were observed in feed intake, feed conversion ratio and survivability. Carcass yields, including breast, thigh, drumstick, wing, neck, liver, heart, and spleen, were not significantly affected by the different monochromatic lighting sources (P>0.05). However, significant differences (P˂0.05) in the weights of the back and proventriculus were observed between the white LED group and the other treatment groups. These results suggest that LED lighting could serve as a better alternative to incandescent bulbs in broiler houses, with the potential to enhance broiler performance and carcass yield.