RESPONSES OF DOMESTIC POULTRY TO VARIOUS LIGHT-SOURCES

More energy efficient and longer lasting lamps are being used to repla ce incandescent lighting in poultry houses. This paper reviews the res ponses of domestic fowl, turkeys and geese to various sources of illum ination. It concludes that there is no evidence that fluorescent or hi gh pressure sodium lighting, irrespective of intensity or spectral dis tribution, has any consistent detrimental effect on growth, food utili zation, reproductive performance, mortality, behaviour or live bird qu ality in either domestic fowl or turkeys, nor in the egg production of geese. There are limited data to suggest that the use of fluorescent lighting may be beneficial in the reduction of leg problems in meat ch ickens. Notwithstanding that poultry may perceive low frequency fluore scent light as discontinuous (at least in Europe), it does not appear to compromise the welfare of poultry, and has been shown in one study with laying fowl to be preferred to incandescent lighting.