Avoid High Mortality In Pig Production

In many countries around the world, environmental regulations are made in the poultry industry. According to The Poultry Site, poultry producers in Australia must offer environmental enrichment for meat chicken breeders. The guidelines also include changes to the minimum light intensity and required periods of darkness, ventilation, and temperature parameters for all species.

To ensure the required environmental enrichments, farmers and farm managers can take advantage of climate sensors for poultry. These are sensors that are specially designed to with-stand the harsh environment in livestock production, where dust, high humidity, temperature swings, as well as high levels of ammonia can harm the sensors and affect their performance.

Climate sensors for poultry comes in various versions, and can monitor the light intensity, level of humidity, CO2, and ammonia, and the temperature. In combination with a farm controller these climate sensors can help the farmer and farm manager controlling the ventilation system and the amount of light automatically. Furthermore, the data from the sensors can be shared with others for documentation purposes or for analysis.

Vital data from climate sensors in poultry

The data from the sensors is vital to the production. By controlling the ventilation system and light intensity automatically, the farmer or farm manager has full control of the environment and thus the animals’ welfare. In poultry, the light intensity can have a huge impact on how the animals grow, the FCR (Feed Consumption Rate), and egg laying.

The temperature is also an important factor in poultry production. A too low temperature will increase the mortality and make the birds clutch together to keep warm. They will most likely start eating more without gaining any weight due to the energy they use to keep warm.

During their life cycle, chickens require different temperatures. This is why an automatic regulation of the temperature is crusial.

The Impact of Knowledge and Performance Management

Most farm manager want to know what is going on in their productions; how are the broilers performing, how big is the mortality rate, and so on. Gaining control and insight into poultry production can have a significant impact on a farm’s efficiency, profitability, and overall success.

Being well-informed about the various aspects of poultry production — from breeding and feeding to health management and environmental control — enables farm managers to make better decisions. This understanding helps in improving animal welfare, and ultimately, enhancing productivity.

Improved Health and Welfare

A thorough knowledge of poultry health and behavior empowers farm managers to swiftly identify and address issues. This leads to healthier flocks, lower mortality rates, and reduced need for medical interventions, which can be costly and sometimes detrimental to the birds’ health and the quality of the produce.

Higher Product Quality and Yield

Farm managers who have a deeper understanding of their poultry’s performance can achieve higher product quality. This includes better meat texture and flavor, as well as higher egg production rates and quality. Such improvements are often the result of well-managed feeding programs, optimal living conditions, and stress reduction strategies.

Lighting is a critical factor in poultry production, directly influencing animal welfare, growth, and overall productivity. To understand its impact, it is important to look at how birds perceive and respond to both light intensity and duration.

Light Intensity and Color Spectrum

Chickens perceive light differently than humans, not only through their eyes but also through the top of the skull. They are sensitive to a wider spectrum, including red, blue, green, and ultraviolet light. This makes the choice of lighting essential.

• Warm or yellow LED light is generally considered best for poultry housing.
• Green and cool blue light have been shown to stimulate growth in broiler chickens.
• Red-spectrum light can reduce aggression and improve egg production in laying and breeding hens.

The correct light intensity also affects feed and water intake, aggression, and cannibalism. Adjusting the light at different growth stages helps manage behavior, health, and performance.

Duration of Light

Poultry thrive on a consistent day–night cycle. Providing the right light schedule supports activity levels, growth, immune function, and overall health. Proper light duration improves mobility, alertness, and productivity, all of which enhance flock welfare.

Equal Light Distribution

Uneven lighting encourages birds to crowd in darker areas for rest or egg laying, which can cause management issues. Unequal distribution may also result in cold, moist litter in unused areas, increasing the risk of poor litter quality and mold formation. Ensuring even light distribution helps birds spread evenly throughout the house and improves overall flock performance.