An investigation on light color and stocking density on some productive performance of broilers

Abstract EN

This study was designated to investigate the effect of light color and stocking density on some productive performance of broilers.

A total of 675 Ross 308 one-dayold broiler chicks were used in this study.

The birds were exposed to white light (WL) as a control , red light (RL), blue light (BL), green light (GL), and Blue – Green mix light (BGL) by a light-emitting diode system (LED) applied for 24 hours daily in separated rooms.

The birds were randomly divided and housed into 9 wooden sealed pens of 1m2 in three replicates for each density 12, 15 and 18 birds/m2 in the room.

The results showed that the broilers reared under BGL significantly increased (P< 0.05) body weight (BW) and weight gain (WG) at 1st , 3rd and 5th week.

Obviously, stocking density had no significant effect on BW and WG at 1st week but significantly increased under 12 birds/m2 at 3rd and 5th week.

Feed intake (FI) recorded a significant increase (P< 0.05) in broilers reared under WL at 1st week, but no statistical difference was found at 3rd week whereas, FI significantly increased (P< 0.05) in broilers reared under BL at 5th week.

The stocking density affected FI values which were significantly differed (P< 0.05) at 1st, 3rd and 5th week under 12 birds/m2 compared with other densities.

The results of the study revealed a significant increase (P< 0.05) of Feed conversion ratio (FCR) in broilers reared under BL at 1st week and RL at 3rd week but there was no significant difference between groups at 5th week.

The results indicated a significant difference of FCR value in 18 birds/m2 at 1st week but there were no significant differences at 3rd and 5th week at different densities.

In conclusion, the results of this study indicated that chickens reared under five different color lighting schedules with three bird densities showed that broilers reared under mixing blue – green light under 12 birds/m2 has a significant positive effects on production performance compared with other light programs and bird densities.