Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2015, 60(12):550-556 | DOI: 10.17221/8597-CJAS

Effect of light colour on egg production and egg contaminationOriginal Paper

J. Svobodová1, E. Tůmová1, E. Popelářová2, D. Chodová1
1 Department of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
2 Department of Microbiology, Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic

The objective of this study was to compare the performance of laying hens, quality of air in poultry house, and microbial contamination of eggshell in laying hens kept under blue, green, red, and yellow light colour in enriched cages. The daily photoperiod consisted of 15 h light, light intensity of 10 lx at bird head level. The laying performance characteristics (hen-day egg production, mortality, and egg weight) were not affected by light colour. Similarly, microbial contamination of the air was not significantly different related to the light colour. There were significant interactions in eggshell contamination between the position of the cage floor and light colour in Escherichia coli (P ≤ 0.042) and Enterococcus (P ≤ 0.019). The highest number of Escherichia coli was detected in eggs from hens housed on the middle floor given yellow light (6.06 log colony forming units (cfu)/eggshell) and the lowest values (3.30 log cfu/eggshell) on the upper floor also under yellow light colour. Similar results were observed in Enterococcus, where the highest contamination was on the middle floor under yellow light colour (5.26 log cfu/eggshell), while the lowest contamination (2.45 log cfu/eggshell) was found on the upper floor under blue colour. The results of our study indicate that the light colour has a minor effect on microbial contamination but the significant influence was in the floor position. The highest microbial egg contamination was found on eggs from the middle floor.

Keywords: monochromatic lights; production performance; microbial contamination, laying hens

Published: December 31, 2015  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Svobodová J, Tůmová E, Popelářová E, Chodová D. Effect of light colour on egg production and egg contamination. Czech J. Anim. Sci. 2015;60(12):550-556. doi: 10.17221/8597-CJAS.
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Board R.G., Tranter H.S. (1995): The microbiology of eggs. In: Stadelman W.J. and Cotterill O.J. (eds): Egg Science and Technology. Food Products Press, New York, USA, 81-103.
    2. Borille R., Garcia R.G., Royer A.F.B., Santana M.R., Colet S., Naas I.A., Caldara F.R., Almeida Paz I.C.L., Rosa E.S., Castilho V.A.R. (2013): The use of light-emitting diodes (LED) in commercial layer production. Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science, 15, 135-140. Go to original source...
    3. Bowlby G.M.S. (1957): Some preliminary investigations into the effect of light on broilers. World's Poultry Science Journal, 13, 755-764. Go to original source...
    4. Bowmaker J.K., Knowles A. (1977): The visual pigments and oil droplets of the chicken retina. Vision Research, 17, 755-764. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    5. Chavez C., Knape K.D., Coufal C.D., Carey J.B. (2002): Reduction of egg shell aerobic plate counts by ultraviolet irradiation. Poultry Science, 81, 1132-1135. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    6. Coufal C.D., Chavez C., Knape K.D., Carey J.B. (2003): Evaluation of a method of ultraviolet light sanitation of broiler hatching eggs. Poultry Science, 82, 754-759. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    7. Dartnall H.J.A., Bowmaker J.K., Mollon J.D. (1983): Human visual pigments: microspectrophotometric results from the eyes of seven persons. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series B: Biological Sciences, 220, 115-130. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    8. Davies R.H., Breslin M. (2003): Investigation of Salmonella contamination and disinfection in farm egg-packing plants. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 94, 191-196. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    9. De Reu K., Grijspeerdt K., Heyndrickx M., Zoons J., De Baere D., Uyttendaele M., Debevere J., Herman L. (2005a): Bacterial eggshell contamination in conventional cages, furnished cages and aviary housing systems. British Poultry Science, 46, 149-155. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    10. De Reu K., Grijspeerdt K., Heyndrickx M., Uyttendaele M., Herman L. (2005b): The use of total aerobic and Gramnegative flora for quality assurance in the production chain of consumption eggs. Food Control, 16, 147-155. Go to original source...
    11. De Reu K., Messens W., Grijspeerdt K., Heyndrickx M., Rodenburg B., Uyttendaele M., Herman L. (2010): The influence of housing systems for laying hens on the microbiological egg quality. In: Proc. VIV Europe 2010, Utrecht, the Netherlands, 1-6.
    12. Ellen H.H., Bottcher R.W., Von Wachenfelt E., Takai H. (2000): Dust levels and control methods in poultry houses. Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health, 6, 275-282. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    13. Englmaierova M., Skrivan M., Bubancova I. (2013): A comparison of lutein, spray-dried Chlorella, and synthetic carotenoids effects on yolk colour, oxidative stability, and reproductive performance of laying hens. Czech Journal of Animal Science, 58, 412-419. Go to original source...
    14. Englmaierova M., Tumova E., Charvatova V., Skrivan M. (2014): Effects of laying hens housing system on laying, egg quality characteristics, and egg microbial contamination. Czech Journal of Animal Science, 59, 345-352. Go to original source...
    15. Er D., Wang Z., Cao J., Chen Y. (2007): Effect of monochromatic light on the egg quality of laying hens. The Journal of Applied Poultry Research, 16, 605-612. Go to original source...
    16. Freitas H.J., Cotta J.T.B., Oliveira A.I., Murgas L.D.S., Gewehr C.E. (2010): Effects of different lighting programs in laying hens housed in free range. Revista Biotemas, 23, 157-162. (in Portuguese)
    17. Guillam M.T., Claude C., Dewitte J.D., Michel V., Segala C. (2007): Health hazards and inhalatory exposures in poultry farming. Archives des Maladies Professionnelles et de l'Environnement, 68, 161-168. Go to original source...
    18. Harry E.G. (1963): The relationship between egg spoilage and the environment of the egg when laid. British Poultry Science, 4, 91-100. Go to original source...
    19. Hartung J. (1994): The effect of airborne particulates on livestock health and production. In: Dewi I., Axford R.F.E., Fayez I.M.M., Omed H.M. (eds): Pollution in Livestock Production System. CAB International, Wallingford, UK, 55-69.
    20. Hassan R. Md., Sultana S., Sung H.H., Saon R.K. (2013): Effect of monochromatic and combined light colour on performance, blood parameters, ovarian morphology and reproductive hormones in laying hens. Italian Journal of Animal Science, 12, 1-6. Go to original source...
    21. Huber-Eicher B., Suter A., Spring-Stahli P. (2013): Effects of colored light-emitting diode illumination on behavior and performance of laying hens. Poultry Science, 92, 869-873. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    22. Huneau-Salaun A., Michel V., Huonnic L., Balaine L., Le Bouquin S. (2010): Factors influencing bacterial eggshell contamination in conventional cages, furnished cages and free-range systems for laying hens under commercial conditions. British Poultry Science, 51, 163 -169. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    23. Keller L.H., Benson C.E., Krotec K., Eckroade R.J. (1995): Salmonella enteritidis colonization of the reproductive tract and forming and freshly laid egg of chickens. Infection and Immunity, 63, 2443-2449. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    24. Lewis P.D., Morris T.R. (2000): Poultry and coloured light. World's Poultry Science Journal, 56, 189-207. Go to original source...
    25. Min J.K., Hossan Md. S., Nazma A., Jae C.N., Han T.B., Hwan K.K., Dong W.K., Hyun S.C., Hee C.C., Ok S.S. (2012): Effect of monochromatic light on sexual maturity, production performance and egg quality of laying hens. Avian Biology Research, 5, 69-74. Go to original source...
    26. Miyamoto T., Baba E., Tanaka T., Sasai K., Fukata T., Arakawa A. (1997): Salmonella enteretidis contamination of eggs from hens inoculated by vaginal, cloacal and intravenous routes. Avian Diseases, 34, 463-465. Go to original source...
    27. Mohammed H.H., Grashorn M.A., Bessei W. (2010): The effects of lighting conditions on the behaviour of laying hens. Archiv für Geflügelkunde, 74, 197-202. Go to original source...
    28. Nicholls T.J., Goldsmith A.R., Dawson A. (1988): Photorefractoriness in birds and comparison with mammals. Physiological Reviews, 68, 133-176. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    29. Prayitno D.S., Phillips C.J.C., Omed H. (1997): The effects of color of lighting on the behavior and production of meat chickens. Poultry Science, 76, 452-457. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    30. Prescott N.B., Wathes C.M. (1999): Spectral sensitivity of domestic fowl (Gallus g. domesticus). British Poultry Science, 40, 332-339. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    31. Protais J., Queguiner S., Boscher E., Piquet J.C., Nagard B., Salvat G. (2003): Effect of housing system on the bacterial flora in the air and on egg shells. In: Proc. 10th European Symposium on the Quality of Eggs and Egg Products, Saint-Brieuc, France, 142-149.
    32. Pyrzak R., Siopes T.D. (1986): The effect of color light on egg quality of turkey hens in cage. Poultry Science, 65, 1262-1267. Go to original source...
    33. Pyrzak R., Snapir N., Goodman G., Perek M. (1987): The effect of light wavelength on the production and quality of eggs of the domestic hen. Theriogenology, 28, 947-960. Go to original source...
    34. Quarles C.L., Gentry R.F., Bressler G.O. (1970): Bacterial contamination in poultry houses and its relationship to egg hatchability. Poultry Science, 49, 60-66. Go to original source...
    35. Radon K., Weber C., Iversen M., Danuser B., Pedersen S., Nowak D. (2001): Exposure assessment and lung function in pig and poultry farmers. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 58, 405-410. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    36. Ricke S.C., Birkhold S.G., Gast R.K. (2001): Eggs and egg products. In: Downes F.P. and Ito K. (eds): Compendium of Methods for the Microbiological Examination of Foods. American Public Health Association, Washington, USA, 473-479. Go to original source...
    37. Rozenboim I., Zilberman E., Gvaryahu G. (1998): New monochromatic light source for laying hens. Poultry Science, 77, 1695-1698. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    38. Savory C.J., Mann J.S. (1999): Feather pecking in groups of growing bantams in relation to floor litter substrate and plumage colour. British Poultry Science, 40, 565-572. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    39. Schumaier G., Harrison P.C., McGinnis J. (1968): Effects of colored fluorescent light on growth, cannibalism and subsequent egg production of single comb White Leghorn pullets. Poultry Science, 47, 1599-1602. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    40. Solangi A.H., Rind M.I., Solangi A.A., Shahani N.A., Rind A.N., Solangi S.H. (2004): Influence of lighting on production and agonistic behaviour of broiler. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 3, 285-288.
    41. Takai H., Pedersen S., Johnsen J.O., Metz J.H.M., Groot Koerkamp P.W.G., Uenk G.H., Phillips V.R., Holden M.R., Sneath R.W., Short J.L., White R.P., Hartung J., Seedorf J., Schroder M., Linkert K.H., Wathes C.M. (1998): Concentrations and emissions of airborne dust in livestock buildings in Northern Europe. Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research, 70, 59-77. Go to original source...
    42. Wathes C.M. (1994): Air and surface hygiene. In: Wathes C.M. and Charles D.R. (eds): Livestock Housing. CAB International, Wallingford, UK, 123-148. Go to original source...
    43. Woodard A.E., Moore J.A., Wilson W.O. (1969): Effect of wave length of light on growth and reproduction in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Poultry Science, 48, 118-123. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...

    This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY NC 4.0), which permits non-comercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.


    Return to the content