EVALUATING COMMERCIAL BROILER CHICKEN LIGHTING STRATEGIES FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF PERFORMANCE, WELFARE, AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Light intensity is a critical management tool in commercial broiler production that is used to manage bird behavior and support physiological needs. Alternative rearing programs in the U.S., such as Global Animal Partnership (GAP), are advocating for changes to broiler lighting programs that include elevated light intensities and, most importantly, provision of natural light (NL). For decades, broiler companies have used artificial lighting sources to illuminate houses and have made efforts to reduce natural light intrusion into houses. Little is known about how NL affects bird behavior, welfare, and performance and there are no studies that examine its impacts on the natural environment. The few studies that have investigated NL in broilers have shown that it can increase activity and feed intake and improve leg health (Purswell & Olanrewaju, 2017; Bailie et al., 2012). Growing conditions that alter production efficiency via increased feed intake or energy consumption can have a profound influence on the overall natural resources used by the industry and can reduce grower profits. To put it into perspective, roughly 10% of corn and 37% of soybeans produced in the U.S. is used for broiler and broiler-breeder feed (USDA ERS). Almost 60 billion broilers were produced in the U.S. in 2021 (NCC, 2021), so slight changes in production have a compounding effect in such a large, resource-intensive industry.The interdisciplinary team of agricultural engineers, animal scientists, and Extension specialists included in this proposal are interested in precision animal management to enhance broiler quality and health and to better understand the impacts of lighting management decisions on emissions to the environment (e.g. greenhouse gas emissions). The long-term goals of this project are to compare two broiler lighting programs [NL vs artificial light (LED)] in an effort to 1) optimize broiler management for welfare, behavior, and performance, 2) understand atmospheric emissions and overall environmental impact, 3) use data generated to create impactful Extension programming, and 4) use results to seek additional funding. This proposal attempts to leverage existing equipment and established partnerships to move broiler lighting research into new, innovative directions. Past research efforts by several of the investigators provide some of the framework needed to meet these specific objectives:Obj. 1: Develop a system to assess seasonal light intensity in natural light (NL) and artificial light (LED) houses through continuous monitoring during three commercial broiler flocks.Obj. 2: Assess the impact of NL and LED treatments on broiler performance (growth and feed conversation ratio), behaviors, and welfare parameters.Obj. 3: Create a framework to conduct a comparative life cycle assessment on NL versusLED lighting in poultry houses.Obj. 4: Host a poultry-related lighting workshop and create Extension fact sheets and hands-on demonstrations to disseminate project information.