Impact of Lighting Conditions on Poultry Production
Summary
Lighting regimes constitute a critical management tool in poultry production, influencing growth rates, health status and welfare outcomes. Variations in light spectrum, intensity and photoperiod can modulate physiological processes via the avian neuroendocrine system, affecting melatonin synthesis, appetite regulation and bone metabolism. Full-spectrum and monochromatic lights have been shown to alter oxidative stress markers, hormone secretion and microbial communities within the gut, thereby shaping feed conversion efficiency and immune competence. Photoperiod length and light intensity also bear directly on skeletal development, feather integrity and behavioural indicators of stress, such as fear responses and gait abnormalities. Optimising lighting programmes across rearing and incubation phases offers a means to enhance production performance while reducing welfare concerns. These insights bear global significance for sustainable poultry systems, enabling producers to tailor lighting environments to local infrastructure and animal welfare standards.
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Impact of Lighting Conditions on Poultry Production publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in impact of lighting conditions on poultry production across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Photoperiod: The duration of light and dark phases within a 24-hour cycle, influencing avian circadian rhythms and hormonal regulation.
Circadian rhythm: The internal biological clock that synchronises physiological and behavioural processes with environmental light-dark cycles.
Oxidative stress: A state arising from an imbalance between reactive oxygen species and antioxidant defences, impacting cellular health and growth.
Gut microbiota: The community of microorganisms residing in the gastrointestinal tract, playing roles in digestion, immunity and nutrient absorption.
Tonic immobility: A behavioural measure of fear response in birds, characterised by a temporary state of motor inhibition when placed on the back.
References
- Impact of Full-Spectrum and Infrared Lighting on Growth, Oxidative Stress, and Cecal Microbiota in Broilers. Antioxidants (2024).
- Daylight exposure and circadian clocks in broilers: part I—photoperiod effect on broiler behavior, skeletal health, and fear response. Poultry Science (2023).
- The effect of supplementary ultraviolet wavelengths on broiler chicken welfare indicators. Applied Animal Behaviour Science (2018).
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