Research Notes

The Effect of Monochromatic Light on Broiler Growth and Development

ISRAEL ROZENBOIM,1 ISSAK BIRAN, ZEHAVA UNI, BOAZ ROBINZON, and ORNA HALEVY
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science,
P.O.B. 12 Rehovot 76100, Israel
efficiency was calculated. Blood samples were taken at 1,
9, and 32 d of age and plasma testosterone was
determined. Two necropsies were conducted, at 23 and
35 d of age, and selected glands and organs were
weighed. In the group reared under green light, a
significant enhancement in weight gain was observed as
early as 3 d of age; this gain was maintained during the
entire experimental period. Broilers reared under blue
light had a later onset of growth enhancement and were
significantly heavier than those reared under white and
red light at 20 d of age. Plasma testosterone levels were
significantly higher in birds reared under blue light.
Breast muscle weights were significantly higher in the
birds reared under green light at 23 and 35 d of age.
These results suggest that green and blue light stimulate
growth.

(Key words: broiler, monochromatic light, growth, body weight, testosterone)

1999 Poultry Science 78:135138

Japanese quail had lower BW when reared under GL

and BL than those reared under RL or WL (Woodward
et al., 1969). Turkeys grew faster under BL until 16 wk of
age but by 24 wk those reared under RL and WL were
heavier (Leighton and Mason, 1976). Pink light
depressed chicken hatching weights with reversal by
WL at 4 wk of age (Tamimie, 1967). Green light
advanced early chick embryo growth, as did BL (Lauber,
1975) and ultraviolet (UV) light (Coleman et al., 1977).
The possible causes of contradictory findings were
probably due to variability in light sources (Goodman,
1983), methods of measuring light doses (Blum, 1964),
species, breed, sex, and age of experimental birds
(Woodward et al., 1969; Ookawa, 1970; Foss et al., 1972).
In order to eliminate some of those controversies, a
new kind of monochromatic light source was introduced. A light emitting diode (LED), consisting of a
single p-n junction, is a simple semiconductor device.
Light is emitted when the junction is forward biased so
that monitory carrier injection and electron-hole recombination occur. Many types of LED lamps are currently
available commercially. The major benefits of these

INTRODUCTION
The only light source for chickens in environmental
control houses is artificial. Thus, source, spectra, intensity, and regimen of light supplementation become
major factors in modern broiler management (Andrews
and Zimmerman, 1990). A high intensity of light (64.8
lx) reduces growth rate in broilers (Barrott and Pringle,
1951); Cherry and Barwick (1962) stated that light
intensities beyond 10.8 lx probably depress growth.
Light spectra may also affect growth in broilers.
Broilers raised under blue (BL) or green fluorescent
lamps (GL) gained significantly more weight than birds
reared under red (RL) or white light (WL), whereas feed
conversion and mortality were not affected (Wabeck and
Skoglund, 1974). There are, however, conflicting reports
regarding the effect of monochromatic light on birds
growth. Whereas GL was found to stimulate growth
(Lauber and McGinnis, 1961; Ookawa, 1970; Foss et al.,
1972; Wabeck and Skoglund, 1974), mature female

Received for publication December 1, 1997.

Accepted for publication August 3, 1998.
1To whom correspondence should
Rozenboi@agri.huji.ac.il

be

addressed:

Abbreviation Key: BL = blue light; GL = green light; LED = light

emitting diode; RL = red light; UV = ultraviolet; WL = white light.

135

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ABSTRACT
Artificial illumination, including light
quality, is crucial in modern broiler management. In the
present study, a new, highly efficient, monochromatic
light system has been developed for broilers. One
hundred and eighty male broiler chicks (Anak) were
divided into four light treatment groups (n = 45) in three
replicates each. All birds were housed in a single room
previously divided by wooden bars into 12 sealed cells
of 1 m2. Feed and water were provided for ad libitum
consumption. Light intensity was 0.1 W/m2 at the
height of birds heads and was scheduled for 23 h of
light and 1 h of dark during the entire experimental
period. Light treatments were: control white (miniincandescent light bulbs), blue (480 nm), green (560 nm),
and red (660 nm). Body weight was recorded periodically, feed consumption was measured daily, and feed

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ROZENBOIM ET AL.

lamps are: high efficiency, long operating life, water

resistance, single peak of light wave length, which is
characterized by a narrow half band output, and
availability in different monochromatic wave lengths
(Craford, 1985). Studies conducted in our laboratory on
laying White Leghorn hens (Rozenboim et al., 1989)
revealed a significant reduction in feed consumption
(6%), without an effect on egg production in birds
reared under 660 nm LED lamps at an intensity of 0.01
W/m2 compared to birds reared under WL. The
objective of the present study was to investigate the
effect of monochromatic light quality on growth and
development of male broilers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

data was assigned in blocks, when blocks were found to be

nonsignificant for all treated variables, and results were
retested in a one-way analysis of variance using pens as
the experimental unit.

RESULTS
Body weights are presented in Figure 1a, b, and c for
early middle and late experimental ages, respectively. A
significant increase in BW was observed in birds reared
under GL as early as 3 d of age as compared to all other
treatment groups (Figure 1a). This trend continued
through 5 and 7 d of age, compared to birds reared
under RL or WL. At these ages, no significant difference
in BW was found between birds treated with GL and BL.
By 9 d of age, GL chicks were heavier than all other

Animals

2Kfar Menahem, 79785 Israel.

3Li-Cor, Inc., Lincoln, NE 68504.
4 Coat-a-Count, DPC Testosterone

90045-5597.

Kit, Los Angeles, CA

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One hundred and eighty male broiler chicks (Anak,

Israeli Breeder Union) were purchased from a commercial
hatchery.2 Upon arrival, the chicks were divided into four
light treatment groups (n = 45), in three replicates each (n
= 15). All birds were housed in the same room previously
divided into 12 wooden sealed cells of 1 m2, the room was
heated centrally, and temperatures were constant in all
experimental cells using ceiling ventilation. Feed and
water were supplied for ad libitum consumption according
to The Israeli Breeder Union manual.
Artificial light systems were placed 10 cm above birds
using plastic crosses attached to the ceiling of the room.
Light intensity was measured in each cell in 20 constant
locations, and were brought to an average intensity of 0.1
W/m2 at birds head level.3 Light schedule was constant
during the entire experiment, consisting of 23 h of light
and 1 h of darkness. Four spectra were tested: miniincandescent light bulbs (WL control), 480 nm LED lamps
(BL) (peak wave length of 480 nm, half-band width
between 470 and 490 nm), 560 nm LED lamps (GL) (peak
wave length of 560 nm, half-band width between 552 and
565 nm), and 660 nm LED lamps (RL) (peak wave length of
660 nm, half-band width between 650 and 670 nm).
Body weights were recorded at 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 14, 20, 25,
and 34 d of age. In addition, daily feed consumption was
measured and feed efficiency was calculated. Blood
samples were taken at 1, 9, and 32 d and plasma samples
were assayed for testosterone level4 in a single assay
previously validated in our laboratory (Rozenboim et al.,
1989; Jaccoby et al., 1994), the intra-assay coefficient of
variation was 7% and the minimum detectable dose was
50 pg/mL. Two necropsies were preformed, at 23 and 35 d
of age. Selected organs and glands including breast
muscle, were removed and weighed. Statistical analysis of

FIGURE 1. Body weight of male broilers reared under different

light spectra. Each group of treated birds was exposed to either 480,
560, or 660 nm, or white light from 1 d old until termination of
experiment at 35 d of age. Figure 1a presents BW at 1, 3, 5, and 7 d of
age. Figure 1b presents BW at 9, 11, and 14 d of age and Figure 1c
presents BW results collected at 20, 25, and 34 d of age. Bars marked
with different letters are significantly different from each other (P <
0.05).

137

RESEARCH NOTE

FIGURE 2. Feed conversion of male broilers reared under different

light spectra. Each group of treated birds was exposed to either 480,
560, or 660 nm, or white light from 1 d old until termination of
experiment at 35 d of age.

FIGURE 3. Plasma testosterone of male broilers reared under

different light spectra. Each group of treated birds was exposed to
either 480, 560, or 660 nm, or white light from 1 d old until termination
of experiment at 35 d of age. Bars marked with different letters are
significantly different from each other (P < 0.05).

of age. The lowest testosterone level was detected in the

GL birds (Figure 3).
Breast muscle weights at 23 and 35 d of age are
presented in Figure 4. Green light significantly increased
muscle weight compared to WL at 23 d of age and
compared to both RL and WL at 34 d of age. As a
percentage of BW, breast muscle weight was similar
among all experimental groups (data not presented). No
significant treatment effect was found in liver, abdominal adipose tissue, testes, adrenal, and thyroid gland
weights, either in absolute or relative values.

DISCUSSION
The present study shows that the spectrum of
monochromatic light affects the growth rate of broiler
chicks. Within a period of 3 d posthatch, GL enhanced
growth rate significantly more than WL or RL. Growth
was also enhanced by BL, but the onset of this effect was
delayed in comparison to that of GL. Similarly, in
broilers (Wabeck and Skoglund, 1974) and quail (Phogat
et al., 1985) raised under BL or BL fluorescent lamps
gained significantly more weight than those reared
under RL or WL fluorescent lamps, whereas feed
conversion and mortality were not affected.
Whereas both BL and GL enhanced growth, the onset
of the enhancement occurred at different times. Green
light enhances growth at an early age, probably by
enhancing proliferation of skeletal muscle satellite cells
(Halevi et al., 1998). Blue light enhanced growth at a
later age, probably by elevation in plasma androgens.
Androgens enhance protein synthesis and reduce protein breakdown. As a result, androgens cause muscle
accretion (Bates et al., 1987; Capaccio et al., 1987;
Crowley and Matt, 1996) and are involved in the normal
maintenance of muscular tissue. In conclusion, the
present study shows that in chickens, even at low light
intensity, specific light spectra enhance muscle growth.

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groups including the BL birds (Figure 1b). From 11 to 14

d of age, chicks reared under GL were significantly
heavier then birds reared under RL or WL. The weight
of chicks reared under BL was not significantly different
from that of all treated groups. From 20 d of age until
termination of the experiment (Figure 1c), broilers
reared under GL or BL were significantly heavier than
birds reared under RL or WL.
Feed conversion data are presented in Figure 2. No
significant differences were found between the experimental groups in feed conversion values at 10, 14,
20, 25, and 34 d of age. However, chickens reared under
GL always had the best feed conversion ratio. There
were no significant differences in mortality rate between
treatments; mortality averaged 7% over entire experimental period.
A significant elevation in plasma testosterone level
was observed in broilers reared under BL, at 9 and 32 d

FIGURE 4. Breast muscle weight of 35-d-old male broilers reared

under different light spectra. Each group of treated birds was exposed
to either 480, 560, or 660 nm, or white light from 1 d old until
termination of experiment at 35 d of age. Bars marked with different
letters are significantly different from each other (P < 0.05).

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ROZENBOIM ET AL.

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