LED LIGHTING is what most farmers will install when fitting out new-build poultry units or undertaking a refurbishment.
The first consideration for many is cost – LED systems use far less electricity, and bulbs are commonly far longer lasting than alternatives.
See also: How Crown Chicken moved to 100% on-farm-hatching
But understanding how birds perceive light in their environment, interact with it, and how it can impact welfare and performance is critical before choosing a system, according to Greengage business development manager Glynn Kent.
From their base close to Edinburgh, Scotland, they have designed and manufactured the Agricultural Lighting Induction System (ALIS) LED lighting with poultry production in mind.
Performance improvements
Mr Kent says that research has found significant benefits to farmers’ margins after installing LED systems – one UK-based trial saw a 0.87p/kg improvement to gross margins in broilers compared with fluorescent tubes.
Academic work with laying hens has suggested the right lighting system can lift production by 38 eggs per hen.
Frequently asked questions about poultry lighting
Poultry perceive light very differently from humans – they have a greater sensitivity to colours and vision on the ultraviolet spectrum. How much of each colour, the intensity of light and the length lights are on will all influence production.
Think about the spectrum of light that a bird perceives, the evenness of lighting across the floor and any equipment and the durability of the system. Eliminating dark spots where possible is also essential.
Broilers perform best with a warm white light with more wavelengths of blue light keeping birds calm
Layers benefit from a warm white light with wavelengths of red light – although some research has shown red light causes aggression, there has also been work to show it can improve sexual maturity and egg production rates. The ability to dim lights effectively can help encourage birds to nest boxes and reduce floor eggs.
A poultry-specific lighting system
Greengage’s ALIS system is novel in that electrical current is turned into a wavelength that allows induction transfer to power the lights.
Mains alternating current is converted from 50 to 60Hz into a high-frequency alternating current (HFAC) at 50kHz by 200W and 500W power hubs.
This wavelength powers the LED lights, and is far more efficient in energy usage, says Mr Kent.
In addition, through induction, the copper coiled Bus cable, twisted in such a way that magnetic and electrical interference is cancelled out, is not cut or pierced for the length of the shed, making it more suited to wet and dusty environments.
And the lighting units and sensors themselves are sealed so that, during turnaround, they can be washed effectively.
Fitting an LED system
LED lighting systems range in price and cost of installation: “A standard LED system plus installation in a typical broiler shed would cost £5,500 – £6,000, taking around four to five days to install,” says Mr Kent. “An induction LED system plus installation would be £8,500-£9,000, taking around two days to install.”
Agri Electrical and Security, an electrical installer that specialises in fitting the ALIS systems, says that they can get the new systems into sheds during turnaround in minimal time.
While the only element that requires an electrician is connecting the power hubs and certifying them, they offer a full installation service.
“We try and do it as quickly as we can. If a farm has a six-day turnaround, we can only go in from day two. So we would prefer to do a long day and be finished by lunchtime the next day,” says director James Anstis-Smith.
How is an ALIS LED lighting system installed on poultry farms?
How is an ALIS LED lighting system installed on poultry farms?
- Shed assessment
First, a farm is assessed for the number of lights needed to light the space properly.
- Ante rooms
Control rooms are assessed to see if the power hubs will fit. If not, they can be fitted inside the shed.
- Support wiring
Catenary steel wiring is installed for each line of lighting necessary, with the system cable attached.
- Lighting installed
Lighting units and sensors clip on to the cable and draw electricity through induction.
- Wiring
It is often recommended that the lighting is wired with a new connection, and the new circuit will need to be certified by a qualified electrician.
Return on investment
The below table is a case study of a UK broiler farm that switched from HF Fluorescent tubes to ALIS LEDs.
| Conventional HF Fluorescent tubes | ALIS LEDs | |
| Average house lighting needs | 45x 58W | 120x 11W |
| Energy load | 2.61KW | 1.32KW |
| Average lifetime | 10,000 hours | 100,000 hours |
| Average hours of use per 40-day flock | 640 hours (16 hours per day x 40 days) | 640 hours |
| Chick placement per shed | 35,000 | 35,000 |
| Mortality (birds per flock) | 875 | 875 |
| 40-day running cost at 15p/kWh | £250.56 | £126.72 |
| Total hours usage per year | 4,480 hours | 4,480 hours |
| Annual energy cost for lighting (seven flocks per year) | £1,753.92 | £887.04 |
| Average chick weight at seven days | 190g | 194g |
| Average kill weight | 2,600g | 2,625g |
| Financial gain | – | 1.87p/bird = £638.14 per flock |
| Initial investment | £2400 plus £1800 install | £6,700 plus £2,100 installation |
| Annual savings from bird performance and energy reduction | – | £5,354.00 |
| ROI | – | Under 2 years |
