Design and evaluation of a lighting preference test system for laying hens

Abstract. Light plays an important role in poultry development, production performance, health, and well-being. Light technology continues to advance, and accordingly new light products are finding applications in poultry operations. However, research concerning responses of young and adult laying hens to light sources is relatively lacking. This study assessed the choice between a Dim-to-Red poultry-specific light-emitting diode (LED) light (PS-LED, correlated color temperature or CCT = 2000K) and a warm-white fluorescent light (FL, CCT = 2700K) by pullets and laying hens (W-36 breed) via preference test. Birds with different prior lighting experiences were evaluated for their light choice, including (1) pullets (14 to 16 weeks of age or WOA) reared under incandescent light (designated as PINC), (2) layers (44 to 50 WOA) under PS-LED (LLED) throughout the pullet and laying phases, and (3) layers under FL (LFL) throughout the pullet and laying phases. Each bird category consisted of 12 replicates, three birds per replicate. Each replicate involved a 6-day preference test, during which the birds could move freely between two interconnected compartments that contained PS-LED and FL, respectively. Time spent and feed intake by the birds under each light were measured and then analyzed with generalized linear mixed models. Results showed that regardless of prior lighting experience, birds in all cases showed stronger choice for FL (p = 0.001 to 0.030), as evidenced by higher proportions of time spent under it. Specifically, the proportion of time spent (mean ±SEM) under FL versus PS-LED was 58.0% ±2.9% vs. 42.0% ±2.9% for PINC, 53.7% ±1.6% vs. 46.3% ±1.6% for LLED, and 54.2% ±1.2% vs. 45.8% ±1.2% for LFL. However, the proportions of daily feed intake occurring under FL and PS-LED were comparable in all cases (p = 0.419 to 0.749). The study thus reveals that prior lighting experience of the pullets or layers did not affect their choice of FL versus PS-LED. While the birds exhibited a somewhat stronger choice for FL, this tendency did not translate into differences in the proportion of feed use under each light type. Keywords: Behavior and welfare, Computer vision, Poultry Lighting, Preference assessment.

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Assessment of lighting needs by W-36 laying hens via preference test

animal ◽

10.1017/s1751731115002384 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 671-680 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

H. Ma ◽

H. Xin ◽

Y. Zhao ◽

B. Li ◽

T.A. Shepherd ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Laying Hens ◽

Preference Test

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Development and application of a preference test system to evaluate housing conditions for laboratory rats

Applied Animal Behaviour Science ◽

10.1016/0168-1591(95)00561-6 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 43 (4) ◽

pp. 279-290 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

H.J.M. Blom ◽

G.Van Tintelen ◽

V. Baumans ◽

J.Van Den Broek ◽

A.C. Beynen

Keyword(s):

Preference Test ◽

Test System ◽

Housing Conditions ◽

Laboratory Rats

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Food, wood, or plastic as substrates for dustbathing and foraging in laying hens: A preference test

Poultry Science ◽

10.3382/ps.2009-00598 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 89 (8) ◽

pp. 1584-1589 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

B. Scholz ◽

S. Urselmans ◽

J.B. Kjaer ◽

L. Schrader

Keyword(s):

Laying Hens ◽

Preference Test

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Behavioural responses of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) to different types of uninfested and infested feed

Bulletin of Entomological Research ◽

10.1017/s0007485320000024 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 110 (4) ◽

pp. 550-557

Author(s):

Nikola Đukić ◽

Goran Andrić ◽

Velemir Ninkovic ◽

Marijana Pražić Golić ◽

Petar Kljajić ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pest Management ◽

Tribolium Castaneum ◽

Wheat Bran ◽

Laying Hens ◽

Preference Test ◽

Stored Products ◽

Brewer’S Yeast ◽

Searching Behaviour ◽

Behavioural Responses ◽

Different Types

AbstractTribolium castaneum is one of the most economically important insects that damages stored products. The effects of several infested or uninfested raw feed materials (wheat bran, coarse wheat meal, corn feed flour), feed products (compound feed for pigs and for laying hens) and flour mixed with brewer's yeast on the food-searching behaviour of T. castaneum adults were studied in a total of 48 combinations. Preference and olfactometer tests revealed that all the tested uninfested and intraspecific infested substrates were significantly more attractive to T. castaneum than the control (represented by part of an arena or olfactometer arm without substrate). We determined that all infested substrates were 2–9 times more attractive than uninfested in the preference test, while in the olfactometer test, they were 3–8 times more attractive. In comparing the attractiveness of the infested and uninfested substrates, in both tests wheat bran was found to be the most attractive substrate to T. castaneum adults and coarse wheat meal the least. The results of the present study contribute to our knowledge of how raw feed materials and products influence the behaviour of T. castaneum and their susceptibility to infestation, and indicate the possible utilization of wheat bran in monitoring processes of T. castaneum in pest management programmes.

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Preferences of farmed blue foxes for platforms, nestbox and cage floor

Agricultural and Food Science ◽

10.23986/afsci.72718 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 3 (5) ◽

pp. 467-472

Author(s):

Hannu Korhonen ◽

Paavo Niemelä

Keyword(s):

Preference Test ◽

Test System ◽

Winter Period ◽

Test Situation ◽

The Real ◽

Real Effects ◽

Platform Location ◽

Cage Floor ◽

Present Test

A preference test system was devised to assess the preferences of farm-raised, juvenile blue foxes for six various types of resting platforms, including nestbox roof, and for nestbox and cage floor. The results showed that platform use was low since the test foxes preferred the cage floor. The amount of previous individual platform usage did not affect preference. However, foxes originating from groups with a high amount of previous platform use also had the highest amount of platform usage in the test situation. Of all the platforms, the nestbox roof was preferred the most. Although the location of the platform in the present test situation was found to affect preference, it was difficult to finally separate the real effects of platform location and type. No relationship was found between temperature and use of the platforms or nestbox. On the basis of the present results we may conclude that platforms are not actually necessary for foxes during winter period.

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