{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,1]],"date-time":"2026-10-01T12:09:14Z","timestamp":1790856554470,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":47,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"16","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,13]],"date-time":"2025-08-13T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1755043200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Center for Food Animal Wellbeing"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Lighting influences broiler production, health, and behavior. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of three light wavelengths (White [350\u2013780 nm], Blue [450 nm], and Green [560 nm]) on broiler production, activity, fear, stress, blood cell profiles, and tibiotarsi (tibia) morphology. Day-of-hatch male broiler chicks (N = 600) were housed in pens (N = 12) with one lighting treatment for 42 days. Body weight and feed consumption were recorded on day (D) 0, 14, 28, and 42, and the feed conversion ratio was calculated. The Tonic Immobility test was used to assess the latency (seconds) to right from the testing cradle (D12 and D33). Blood was drawn for leukocyte and plasma corticosterone concentrations (D21 and D41). Accelerometers were attached at 2 and 5 weeks of age to measure activity. On D41, thermal images of the head were taken to measure surface temperatures (eye and beak), the bursa of Fabricius (bursa) was extracted for relative bursa weight, and the right and left tibias were extracted for tibia morphology. After sampling, the remaining broilers were processed. Activity was greatest in Green light at Week 2 (261.17 \u00b1 8.52 m\/s2, p &lt; 0.0001), and activity was lowest in White light at Week 5 (98.99 \u00b1 8.52 m\/s2, p &lt; 0.0001). Broilers under Blue light had lower concentrations of lymphocytes (8.62 \u00b1 0.40 \u00d7 103 cells\/\u00b5L, p = 0.01) and T cells (7.16 \u00b1 0.33 \u00d7 103 cells\/\u00b5L, p = 0.008) compared to White light. Breast yields were greatest (26.89 \u00b1 0.13%, p = 0.01) in the White treatments compared to Green and Blue treatments. These results suggest that blue light may negatively impact immune health, while green light increases activity, without decreasing production performance, and white light can improve carcass traits. Therefore, lighting color can be strategically used to target welfare or production goals.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani15162372","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,13]],"date-time":"2025-08-13T07:45:31Z","timestamp":1755071131000},"page":"2372","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":6,"title":["Effects of Light Wavelength on Broiler Performance, Blood Cell Profiles, Stress Levels, and Tibiotarsi Morphology"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"Angela","family":"Perretti","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8164-9079","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Victor J.","family":"Oyeniran","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-4980-2848","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jaelen M.","family":"Cherry","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8074-5624","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rosemary H.","family":"Whittle","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zachary","family":"Grider","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alexander H.","family":"Nelson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Seong W.","family":"Kang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2106-3484","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gisela F.","family":"Erf","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5653-6945","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Shawna L.","family":"Weimer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,13]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"211","DOI":"10.1017\/S0043933918000028","article-title":"Impact of Animal Welfare on Worldwide Poultry Production","volume":"74","author":"Bessei","year":"2018","journal-title":"Worlds Poult. Sci. J."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e4377","DOI":"10.55905\/rcssv13n12-007","article-title":"Lighting in Broiler Poultry Houses: Optimization for Growth, Welfare and Sustainability","volume":"13","author":"Sakata","year":"2024","journal-title":"Rev. Caribe\u00f1a Cienc. Soc."},{"key":"ref_3","first-page":"185","article-title":"Effect of the Colour of Light on Growth Performance, Behaviour and Bone Parameters of Broiler Chicken","volume":"20","author":"Senaratna","year":"2008","journal-title":"Trop. Agric."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3013","DOI":"10.3382\/ps.2012-02413","article-title":"Effect of Combinations of Monochromatic Lights on Growth and Productive Performance of Broilers","volume":"91","author":"Cao","year":"2012","journal-title":"Poult. Sci."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102052","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psj.2022.102052","article-title":"Light Color and the Commercial Broiler: Effect on Behavior, Fear, and Stress","volume":"101","author":"Franco","year":"2022","journal-title":"Poult. Sci."},{"key":"ref_6","unstructured":"Lewis, P., and Morris, T. (2006). Chapter 1: Light. Poultry Lighting: The Theory and Practice, Nottingham University Press."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kang, S.W., Christensen, K.D., Kidd, M.T., Orlowski, S.K., and Clark, J. (2023). Effects of a Variable Light Intensity Lighting Program on the Welfare and Performance of Commercial Broiler Chickens. Front. Physiol., 14.","DOI":"10.3389\/fphys.2023.1059055"},{"key":"ref_8","unstructured":"Lewis, P., and Morris, T. (2006). Chapter 2: Physiology and Mechanisms. Poultry Lighting: The Theory and Practice, Nottingham University Press."},{"key":"ref_9","unstructured":"Benoit, J. (1961). Opto-sexual reflex in the duck: Physiological and histological aspects. Yale J. Biol. Med., 34."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"204","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1749-6632.1964.tb48175.x","article-title":"The Role of the Eye and of the Hypothalamus in the Photostimulation of Gonads in the Duck","volume":"117","author":"Benoit","year":"1964","journal-title":"Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"452","DOI":"10.1093\/ps\/76.3.452","article-title":"The Effects of Color of Lighting on the Behavior and Production of Meat Chickens","volume":"76","author":"Prayitno","year":"1997","journal-title":"Poult. Sci."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"135","DOI":"10.1093\/ps\/78.1.135","article-title":"The Effect of Monochromatic Light on Broiler Growth and Development","volume":"78","author":"Rozenboim","year":"1999","journal-title":"Poult. Sci."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"493","DOI":"10.1080\/10888705.2021.1986714","article-title":"Evaluation of Light Color Manipulation on Behavior and Welfare of Broiler Chickens","volume":"26","author":"Oke","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Appl. Anim. Welf. Sci."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"951","DOI":"10.12681\/jhvms.18017","article-title":"Impact of Different Light Colors in Behavior, Welfare Parameters and Growth Performance of Fayoumi Broiler Chickens Strain","volume":"69","author":"Hesham","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Hell. Vet. Med. Soc."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"211","DOI":"10.3382\/japr.2007-00043","article-title":"Green and Blue Monochromatic Lights Promote Growth and Development of Broilers via Stimulating Testosterone Secretion and Myofiber Growth","volume":"17","author":"Cao","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Appl. Poult. Res."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2632","DOI":"10.3382\/ps.2011-01523","article-title":"Effects of Monochromatic Light on Quality Properties and Antioxidation of Meat in Broilers","volume":"90","author":"Ke","year":"2011","journal-title":"Poult. Sci."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pan, J., Yang, Y., Yang, B., and Yu, Y. (2014). Artificial Polychromatic Light Affects Growth and Physiology in Chicks. PLoS ONE, 9.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0113595"},{"key":"ref_18","first-page":"422","article-title":"Light Emitting Diode (LED) Use in Artificial Lighting for Broiler Chicken Production","volume":"34","author":"Garcia","year":"2014","journal-title":"Aprovado pelo Conselho Editorial"},{"key":"ref_19","first-page":"24","article-title":"The Effect of Color Light and Stocking Density on Some Traits of broiler Carcasses","volume":"3","author":"Mosa","year":"2014","journal-title":"MRVSA"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"207","DOI":"10.3184\/175815513X13739879772128","article-title":"The Effect of Monochromatic and Mixed LED Light Colour on the Behaviour and Fear Responses of Broiler Chicken","volume":"6","author":"Sultana","year":"2013","journal-title":"Avian Biol. Res."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"731","DOI":"10.2478\/aoas-2023-0090","article-title":"Impact of Light Wavelength on Growth and Welfare of Broilers Chickens: Overview and Future Perspective","volume":"24","author":"Siddiqui","year":"2024","journal-title":"Ann. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"137","DOI":"10.1590\/S1516-635X2006000300001","article-title":"Animal Welfare Concepts and Strategy for poultry Production: A Review","volume":"8","author":"Moura","year":"2006","journal-title":"Braz. J. Poult. Sci."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"118","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jphotobiol.2014.05.014","article-title":"Effect of a Combination of Green and Blue Monochromatic Light on Broiler Immune Response","volume":"138","author":"Zhang","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Photochem. Photobiol. B"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1535","DOI":"10.3382\/ps.2007-00317","article-title":"Effects of Monochromatic Light on Immune Response of Broilers","volume":"87","author":"Xie","year":"2008","journal-title":"Poult. Sci."},{"key":"ref_25","unstructured":"Abbas, A.K., Lichtman, A.H., and Pillai, S. (2022). Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Elsevier. [10th ed.]."},{"key":"ref_26","unstructured":"(2025, July 08). Cobb-Vantress Cobb Broiler Management Guide. Available online: www.cobb-vantress.com."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Santamaria, J.M., Beck, C.N., Orlowski, S.K., Maqueda, M., Bottje, W.G., and Erf, G.F. (2025). Selection for Improved Water Efficiency in Broiler Breeder Lines Does Not Negatively Impact Immune Response Capabilities to Gram\u2212 and Gram+ Bacterial Components and a Killed-Salmonella Enteritidis Vaccine. Vet. Sci., 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/vetsci12030279"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Van Hees, V.T., Gorzelniak, L., Dean Le\u00f3n, E.C., Eder, M., Pias, M., Taherian, S., and Brage, S. (2013). Separating movement and gravity components in an acceleration signal and implications for the assessment of human daily physical activity. PLoS ONE, 8.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0061691"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102245","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psj.2022.102245","article-title":"Research Note: Comparison of Two Methods to Measure Broiler Tibia Morphology","volume":"102","author":"Magnaterra","year":"2023","journal-title":"Poult. Sci."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"619","DOI":"10.1177\/0300985813497488","article-title":"Myodegeneration with Fibrosis and Regeneration in the Pectoralis Major Muscle of Broilers","volume":"51","author":"Sihvo","year":"2014","journal-title":"Vet. Pathol."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2167","DOI":"10.3382\/ps\/pew129","article-title":"Meat Quality of Broiler Breast Fillets with White Striping and Woody Breast Muscle Myopathies","volume":"95","author":"Tijare","year":"2016","journal-title":"Poult. Sci."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"317","DOI":"10.1016\/S1095-6433(98)10032-6","article-title":"Various Light Source Treatments Affect Body and Skeletal Muscle Growth by Affecting Skeletal Muscle Satellite Cell Proliferation in Broilers","volume":"120","author":"Halevy","year":"1998","journal-title":"Comp. Biochem. Physiol. A"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"192","DOI":"10.1111\/jpn.13681","article-title":"Effect of light intensity on growth performance and bone development of tibia in broilers","volume":"107","author":"Wu","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Anim. Physiol. Anim. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1674","DOI":"10.1093\/ps\/76.12.1674","article-title":"The Effects of Color and Intensity of Light on Behavior and Leg Disorders in Broiler Chickens","volume":"76","author":"Prayitno","year":"1997","journal-title":"Poult. Sci."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"315","DOI":"10.1080\/00071668.2024.2425627","article-title":"Influence of LED Light Spectra and Photoperiods on Performance, Bone Characteristics and Related Genes Expression in Broiler Breeders","volume":"66","author":"Nasirzadeh","year":"2025","journal-title":"Br. Poult. Sci."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1321","DOI":"10.1093\/ps\/84.8.1321","article-title":"Evaluation of Slower-Growing Broiler Genotypes Grown with and without Outdoor Access: Growth Performance and Carcass Yield","volume":"84","author":"Fanatico","year":"2005","journal-title":"Poult. Sci."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1287","DOI":"10.1093\/ps\/86.7.1287","article-title":"Effect of Light Intensity and Photoperiod on Live Performance, Heterophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio, and Processing Yields of Broilers","volume":"86","author":"Lien","year":"2007","journal-title":"Poult. Sci."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1595","DOI":"10.3382\/ps.0711595","article-title":"Growth, Body Composition, and Plasma Androgen Concentration of Male Broiler Chickens Subjected to Different Regimens of Photoperiod and Light Intensity","volume":"71","author":"Charles","year":"1992","journal-title":"Poult. Sci."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101833","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psj.2022.101833","article-title":"Differences in carcass composition and meat quality of conventional and slow-growing broiler chickens raised at 2 stocking densities","volume":"101","author":"Weimer","year":"2022","journal-title":"Poult. Sci."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"213","DOI":"10.2141\/jpsa.44.213","article-title":"Preference of Broiler Chicks for Color of Lighting and Feed","volume":"44","author":"Khosravinia","year":"2007","journal-title":"J. Poult. Sci."},{"key":"ref_41","first-page":"757","article-title":"Effects of wavelengths of light on the photoperiodic gonadal response of blinded-pinealectomized Japanese quail","volume":"10","author":"Oishi","year":"1993","journal-title":"Zool. Sci."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"341","DOI":"10.1017\/S0962728600019114","article-title":"Effects of Lighting on the Welfare of Domestic Poultry a Review","volume":"5","author":"Manser","year":"1996","journal-title":"Anim. Welfare"},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"301","DOI":"10.3923\/ijps.2006.301.308","article-title":"A Review of Lighting Programs for Broiler Production","volume":"5","author":"Olanrewaju","year":"2006","journal-title":"Int. J. Poult. Sci."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"605","DOI":"10.1017\/S0043933916000416","article-title":"Physiological Roles of Avian Eyes in Light Perception and Their Responses to Photoperiodicity","volume":"72","author":"Egbuniwe","year":"2016","journal-title":"Worlds Poult. Sci. J."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"34","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jveb.2019.10.014","article-title":"Light Wavelengths\/Colors: Future Prospects for Broiler Behavior and Production","volume":"36","author":"Soliman","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Vet. Behav."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"373","DOI":"10.1080\/00439339.2024.2446298","article-title":"An Updated Review on the Effect of Lighting on Broilers and the Environment of Commercial Houses","volume":"81","author":"Linhoss","year":"2025","journal-title":"Worlds Poult. Sci. J."},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"711","DOI":"10.1080\/00071669208417511","article-title":"Responses of broiler chickens to high-frequency and low-frequency fluorescent light","volume":"33","author":"Boshouwers","year":"1992","journal-title":"Br. Poult. Sci."}],"container-title":["Animals"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/15\/16\/2372\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,9]],"date-time":"2025-10-09T18:26:08Z","timestamp":1760034368000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/15\/16\/2372"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,13]]},"references-count":47,"journal-issue":{"issue":"16","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,8]]}},"alternative-id":["ani15162372"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ani15162372","relation":{},"ISSN":["2076-2615"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2076-2615","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,13]]}}}