1. AHMAD HAMAD SHEIR - Institute of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan.
2. FAWWAD AHMAD - Institute of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan.
3. MUHAMMAD YOUSAF - Institute of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan.
4. RAO ZAHID ABBAS - Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan.
In the current study, the effects of various LED light colors and intensities on the production performance of 720 Babcock® White layers were determined. The layer birds were reared for 8 weeks from the age of 9 weeks to 16 weeks and divided into 18 treatment groups, each with four replicates of 10 birds, in a 6x3 factorial randomized design. The birds were housed in environmental control housing containing 3-tiered laying cages (2 ft x 4 ft x 2 ft) with sloping wire. Light treatments of 6 different colors, cool white (control group), red, blue, green, yellow, and warm white light (Specifically designed for birds/ Sterna light) light with 3 different levels of light intensities (8 lux, 10 lux, and 12 lux), were provided in the rearing phase (9-16 weeks). The wavelengths of different colors of light were cool white 590 nm (400-800 nm), red 630 nm (625-660 nm), blue 470 nm (430-505 nm), green 535 nm (500-565 nm), yellow 585 nm (575-590 nm), and warm white 580 nm (350-830 nm). Weekly evaluations for feed intake, body weight, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR) was determined. Weekly evaluations for weekly weight, feed intake, body weight, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), mortality and economic were determined. The observed data was analyzed with Minitab 18 using factorial arrangements to determine means, p-value and errors. The graphical presentation was done by Origin Pro 2024 and RStudio. The results demonstrated that there was significant (p<0.05) effect of different light colors and intensities on weekly weight, feed intake, body weight, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Interaction among light color and intensities was also observed to be significant (p<0.05). Layers exposed to warm white light showed the highest weights consistently across the weeks, starting from 737.75 g in the 9th week to 1351.3 g by the 16th week. Red light caused the highest feed intake when, starting from around 341-345 g in the first week and increasing to about 493-494 g by the eighth week. Layers exposed to warm white light had the highest weight gain throughout the weeks, starting from 94.16 g in the 9th week to 82.08 g in the 16th week. Red light had the highest total mortality rate, with a noticeable increase during the last four weeks. The birds under red light having 12 lux intensity had the significantly lowest production cost (Rs: 1053.9). During growing stage (9- 16 weeks) red light having 12 lux intensity may be applied to reduce the cost of production.
Layer Birds; Light Colors; Intensities; Growth Performance; Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR); Economics