LED illuminant improving broilers house environment and growth performance

Abstract: In order to provide theoretical support for the application of LED illuminant in the scale raising of broilers, the effects of LED light sources on broilers growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility and the content of NH3, CO2, dust and microorganism of house air had been explored in this paper. One-factor completely random design was used in this study. A total of 240 one-day-old white feather broilers with good health were randomly distributed into two groups with 4 replications per group and 30 birds per replication. Trial group was illuminated with warm white LED-light, the control group was illuminated with warm white fluorescent lamps. The chicken were fed in the same conditions, and the growth conditions including the feed intake, daily gain, feed conversion ratio, morbidity and mortality were observed and determined. Total feces were collected for the apparent nutrient digestibility test of crude protein, crude fat, Ca, and P at the 8th, 15 th, 22th, and 28th day, respectively. And then the content of dust and microorganism were measured by gravimetric and plate sedimentation method, respectively. The content of NH3 and CO2 in the broilers house were detected on five points at 0.5 m high using photochemical method in every day at 08:00, 14:00 and 20:00. Results showed that compared with the fluorescent lamps, LED light sources were no adverse effects on growth performance, nutrient metabolism and house environmental quality of 8 to 20 days old broilers. LED light could improve the feed intake and daily gain of 22 to 28 days old broilers significantly, which were increased by 13.13% and 13.23%, respectively (P<0.05) compared with that of the fluorescent lamp group. LED light source was beneficial to increase the average daily intake and average daily increase quality of the 22-28 days old broilers, compared with the fluorescent lamp, which were significantly increased by 13.13% and 13.23%, respectively (P<0.05). LED light source could also improve the apparent digestibility of crude protein, calcium and phosphorus in the 22 to 28 days old chicken; In the 22th day, it was significantly increased by 9.45%, 14.90% and 7.48% (P<0.05) respectively compared with the fluorescent henhouse group; In the 28th day, it was increased by 7.30%, 6.78% and 8.29% (P<0.05), respectively. During the experiment, the morbidity of chicken in the LED light source group was 2.45%, significantly lower than the incidence of 3.57% in the fluorescent lamp group (P<0.05). The mortality of chicken in the house with LED light source was 1.18%, which was significantly lower than the 2.36% of the fluorescent lamp (P<0.05). Meanwhile, the concentration of NH3 after 25 days and the concentration of dust and microorganism after 22 days in the LED light source house were significantly lower than that of fluorescent lamps group. Therefor the LED light source could improve the production performance of broilers and the air environmental quality of chicken living space. Because of the characteristics of safety, economy and environmental protection, the LED light source is worth further promotion and application in the livestock breeding production.