Abstract

LIM, C.I. et al. Effects of far infrared ray illumination on the performance, blood biochemistry, and faecal microflora of laying hens at different production stages. S. Afr. j. anim. sci. [online]. 2023, vol.53, n.1, pp.75-81. ISSN 2221-4062.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/sajas.v53i1.08.

This study investigated the effect of far-infrared ray (FIR) illumination on performance, blood biochemistry, and faecal microflora of laying hens at different production stages. A total of 360 Hy-line brown laying hens were randomly allocated in a 2 χ 2 factorial arrangement with six replicates. Hens were distributed in two production stages (30-39 and 45-54 weeks-old). Each group was exposed to two light types (light emitting diode; LED and LED+FIR) in separate rooms. The LED treatment illuminated a wavelength of 650 ± 10 nm (0.65 ± 0.01 μηι), while LED+FIR treatment emitted 15 ± 10 μπι with an LED wavelength. The results showed an interaction between egg production stages and light types on the serum triglyceride concentration. The hens exposed to the LED+FIR and LED treatments showed similar egg production, feed intake, egg weight, feed conversion ratio (FCR), as well as albumen height, haugh unit, and shell thickness of eggs. LED+FIR substantially decreased the concentration of serum cholesterol (CHOL), HDL cholesterol (HDLC), and triglyceride (TG) compared to LED lighting. LED+FIR substantially reduced the number of total microbes, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella in faeces compared to birds exposed to LED light. These findings suggest that LED+FIR lights may improve hen health and the hen house environment.

Keywords : biochemical profile; far infrared ray; faecal microflora; laying hens; performance.

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