The Effects of Fluorescent Light Sources on the Performance of White Leghorn Hens

Experiments were conducted to examine the effect of fluorescent light sources on egg production, egg weight, and egg sizing as percentage large and above. In an initial experiment, dimmed incandescent (INC), undimmed warm-white circle (CF), and dimmed cool-white strip fluorescent (SFC) bulbs were compared. A subsequent experiment was similar to the initial one with the exception that warm-white strip fluorescent (SFW) bulbs replaced cool-white bulbs. For the parameters recorded, birds under INC and CF lights in Experiments 1 and 2 responded similarly. During Periods 8, 12, and 13 of Experiment 1, birds subjected to SFC light produced significantly more eggs (P<.05) than INC, but there was no effect on egg size or grade. In contrast, SFW only produced a significant increase (P<.05) in egg production during the first period. In addition, there were significantly fewer (P<05) eggs grading as percentage large and above from the SFW-lighted birds during Periods 2, 3, and 7. The fluorescent light sources consumed 17 to 30% of the power used by the INC bulbs. In Experiments 3 and 4, Phillips 7-W (PL-7) fluorescent bulbs were compared with CF lighting. There were few significant differences in egg production (Experiment 4), and egg size and weight were similar for both CF and PL-7 birds. Power usage was also similar during the measurement period of the first eight periods of Experiment 3. It was concluded that warm-white fluorescent light sources can be used in place of INC. The CF and PL-7 lights produced the most consistent results in bird productivity. Significant power savings occurred from use of any of the three fluorescent light sources compared with use of INC.