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)
0
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!
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
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