The calming effects of short-wavelength light such as blue and green have been widely reported in the literature, and this study further strengthens the evidence that light spectrum can be utilized as an effective tool for optimizing production.
Advances in technology and management science in the livestock sector continue to impress. In this case, the use of LED lighting with different wavelengths was investigated by two researchers from Matrouh University, Egypt. The results show that, in addition to temperature, humidity, and ventilation, lighting is now increasingly understood as a strategic environmental factor capable of influencing broiler performance.
The LED lamps used in the study were adjustable to blue and green wavelengths. These two light colors were proven to trigger different biological responses in poultry, ranging from feeding activity to social behavior. This article reviews a comparison between white LED lighting and blue–green LED lighting in broiler chickens and their effects on comfort level, growth, and feed efficiency.
In modern broiler production systems, light management has in fact become an important instrument in efficiency improvement strategies. Lighting is widely applied because it does not compromise animal welfare. However, in field practice, its use is still largely limited to controlling light intensity and lighting duration, and has not yet widely exploited different light spectra beyond the commonly used white light.
Naturally, chickens possess a more complex visual system than humans, as they are able to detect light through both retinal and extra-retinal photoreceptors. They are sensitive to a wide range of color spectra, including blue, green, red, purple, and even ultraviolet light.
Several previous studies have shown that blue and green light positively affect body weight in various poultry species. It is also known that the effect of monochromatic light on broiler growth is influenced by the age of the birds, with green light being more effective in promoting growth at younger ages, while blue light plays a greater role in stimulating growth in older birds.
Therefore, in this article, the authors compare the effects of white LED lighting and blue–green LED lighting on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and behavior of Cobb strain broiler chickens. The objective is to provide a comprehensive overview of the potential of spectral lighting in modern housing management.
For a period of 35 days, a total of 248 day-old broiler chicks with an average initial body weight of 28 grams were raised and divided into two lighting treatments, each with four replicates. The chicks were randomly allocated to each group and housed in separate pens. Each replicate consisted of 31 birds with a pen area of 3.5 m². The LED lamps used had a light output of 1,000 lumens, with wavelengths of 650 nm for white light, 430 nm for blue light, and 656 nm for green light.
The chickens were reared under uniform management and housing environmental conditions. Light intensity was maintained constantly at 30 lux with an intermittent lighting program, so that any differences in response observed could be directly attributed to differences in light wavelength.
This article is an excerpt from the Research section of Poultry Indonesia magazine, January 2026 edition.
Read the full article in Majalah Poultry Indonesia Edisi Januari 2026.
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