Int. J. Biosci.

2014

International Journal of Biosciences | IJB |

ISSN: 2220-6655 (Print) 2222-5234 (Online)
http://www.innspub.net
Vol. 5, No. 5, p. 80-85, 2014

RESEARCH PAPER OPEN ACCESS

Effects the combinations of light color and intensity of light to

age at first laying and production egg of Alabio Laying ducks

Danang Biyatmoko*

Program Study of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Lambung Mangkurat University, A

Yani Km. 36 Banjarbaru 70714 South Kalimantan, Indonesia

Key words: Duck, light color, intensity of light, hen day, hen house production.

http://dx.doi.org/10.12692/ijb/5.5.80-85 Article published on September 06, 2014

Abstract

The purpose of the study to see the effect of the combination of light color and intensity of light on the age at first
laying, hen day egg production and hen house production Alabio ducks from South Kalimantan. This study used
a completely randomized design factorial 4 x 3 with 3 replications. There are 4 levels of light color consists of
yellow color (W1), red (W2), blue (W3) and green (W4), while there are 3 levels of light intensity consists of 5 lux
(T1), 10 lux (T2) and 15 lux (T3), so there are 12 combinations of treatments. Data were analyzed for variance
(ANOVA) and if there is a treatment effect followed by Duncan's test (DMRT). The results showed the
combinations of light color and intensity of light was significant effect on accelerating the age at first laying
ducks (p<0.05), in which the color combination of light blue with a light intensity of 10 lux (W3T2) is the best
combination that can produce Alabio ducks for the first spawn faster at the age of 159 ± 1.9 days. The
combination of light colors and light intensity significantly affected hen day egg production (p<0.05), in which
the color combination of light blue color with a light intensity of 10 lux (W3T2) generates highest Alabio duck
egg production by 85 ± 0.7%, while the hen house egg production,the combination of light colors and light
intensity significantly affected hen house egg production (p<0.05), in which the color combination of light blue
with a light intensity of 10 lux (W3T2) generates highest egg production by 83 ± 1.0%.
* Corresponding Author: Danang Biyatmoko  danang_biyat@yahoo.com

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 Int. J. Biosci.
Introduction
Maintenance Alabio ducks in South Kalimantan is
currently reported to have been mostly using the
system in a closed or intensive farming. Jin et al.
(2011) states in this intensive system, additional
lighting at night is absolutely necessary to meet the
needs of light in the tropics that only 11-12 hours from
nature by adding 3-4 hours in order to achieve the
needs of 14-16 hours for laying ducks. Light serves as
a stimulator of the pituitary gland that secrete
hormones into the blood Gonadtropin causes an
increase in the growth and development of ovarian
thus directly influence the rate of egg production
(Binkley et al., 1993). Apeldoorn et al., (1999) stated
that light stimulates the pituitary gland to secrete
hormones and force FSH increased in number, so
activate the ovaries.
The function of light is important for poultry light
color due to light source and light intensity. The light
color from the light source can affect the performance
of poultry (Jin et al., 2011). Blue lights give a calm
atmosphere in poultry, while the red light can
enhance the activity of the movement of the wings
and cannibalism. The green lights stimulates growth
rate, while the color of reddish orange light stimulates
reproduction (Rozenboim et al., 2004). According to
Lewis and Morris (2000) that red and yellow lights
can increase the activity of the fowl while the blue and
green otherwise. The red color will increase the
aggressiveness and activity so that the chicken feed
consumption is met and recommended to the
brooding period. Instead of blue and green will
control the aggressiveness and activity to avoid
excessive, in addition to the colors blue and green are
also able to bully protein synthesis and provide the
opportunity to perform multiplication in duck muscle
fibers in calmer conditions. According to Classen et
al., (2004) the green light can stimulate the growth of
young birds, while the blue light stimulates the older
birds.
On the other hand it turns light intensity significantly
increase the growth and production (Buyse et al.,
1996). The higher the intensity of light given to
81 Danang Biyatmoko
2014
increase the activity of locomotion, feed consumption
and egg production rate by influencing the time of
ovulation in ducks. Unlike the duck, still little
reported research investigated the optimal light
intensity needs to duck (Shabiha et al., 2013). The
intensity of light given to duck of 0.2 - 1 lux, while for
the type of laying ducks require much higher light to
stimulate ovulation the egg reaches 5-10 lux
(Olanrewaju et al., 2006). To the tropics with a length
ranging from 11-12 hours per day, it would require an
extra light in the evening as much as 3-4 hours to
reach the light requirements for laying ducks for 14-
16 hours per day. However, the combination of light
colors and optimal light intensity information has not
been obtained, so that the study aims to look at the
effect of the combination of light color and intensity
of light on the rate of production of duck eggs from
South Kalimantan Alabio. On other hand it turns light
intensity significantly increase the growth and
production (Buyse et al., 1996). The higher the
intensity of light given to increase the activity of
locomotion, feed consumption and egg production
rate by influencing the time of ovulation in ducks.
Unlike the chicken, still little reported research
investigated the optimal light intensity needs to duck
(Shabiha et al., 2013). The intensity of light given to
broiler duck of 0.2 - 1 lux, while for the type of laying
ducks require much higher light to stimulate
ovulation the egg reaches 5-10 lux (Olanrewaju et al.,
2006). To the tropics with a length ranging from 11-12
hours per day, it would require an extra light in the
evening as much as 3-4 hours to reach the light
requirements for laying ducks for 14-16 hours per
day. However, the combination of light colors and
optimal light intensity information has not been
obtained, so that the study aims to look at the effect of
the combination of light color and intensity of light on
the rate of production of duck eggs from South
Kalimantan Alabio.
Material and methods
Material
Research from preparation to execution of the
experiment would take 30 days of observation using
the 360 layer ducks Alabio age 7 months. The
 Int. J. Biosci. 2014

research will be carried out in poultry cages. Feed
used was a commercial feed, while the type of
incandescent light bulb that is used (incandescent
light) yellow, red, blue and green. While the light
intensity is measured with a lux meter using different
wattage lamps and lamp height settings suitable for
the achievement of good intensity 5, 10 and 15 lux.
Methods
This study used a completely randomized design
(CRD) 4 x 3 factorial with 3 replications, with a light
color and intensity of light as a treatment, comprising
10 ducks per layer replicates the age of 7 months for a
total of as many as 180 layers Alabio duck tail. There
are 4 levels of light color consists of yellow color (W1),
red (W2), blue (W3) and green (W4), while there are
3 levels of light intensity consists of 5 lux (T1), 10 lux
(T2) and 15 lux (T3), so there are 12 combinations of
treatments. Data were analyzed for variance
(ANOVA) and if there is a treatment effect followed
by Duncan's test (DMRT). The variables measured
were age at first laying to see the first spawning age in
days), hen day egg production (to calculate the daily
egg production rate according to the number of ducks
that live), hen house egg production (to calculate the
daily egg production rate based on the number of
ducks start of the study).
Results and discussion
Age first laying
Age at first laying is used to see how quickly the birds
reach sexual maturity (puberty), is measured by
recording at age of first spawn In Table 1 it showed a
significant effect on accelerating the age at first laying
ducks (p<0.05), in which the color combination of
light blue with a light intensity of 10 lux (W3T2) is the
best combination that can produce Alabio ducks for
the first spawn faster on age of 159 ± 1.9 days,
followed by blue light treatment and the intensity of
15 lux (W3T3) laying age 163 ± 2.1 days and light blue
color and intensity of 5 lux (W3T1) laying age 166 ±
2.1 days. Light blue color produces real age at first
laying faster than three other colors with an average
of 162.6 days laying age, followed by the green color
of 168.3 days, 171 days and then red and finally
yellow. 178.6 days. Meanwhile, for the intensity of
light the best results achieved by the provision of a
light intensity of 10 lux with average first spawning
age 166.7days, followed intensity of 15 lux 170.5 days
and no later than age at first laying is the intensity of
5 lux at 173.2 days. It shows a blue light able to give a
better effect in accelerating adult sex or age of puberty
in the egg-laying ducks.

Table 1. Effect of combination of colors of light (W) and light intensity (T) to age at first laying, henday egg
production and henhouse egg production of Alabio laying ducks.
Treatment Age First Laying (days) Hen Day Egg Production (%) Hen House Egg
Production (%)
W1T1 (yellow color, 5 lux) 183 ± 2.7 d 68 ± 1.2a 66 ± 2.2a
W1T2 (yellow color, 10 lux) 173 ± 3.2 c 74 ± 1.5a 72 ± 1.7ab
W1T3 (yellow color, 15 lux) 180 ± 3.3 d 71 ± 1.2a 70 ± 1.3a
W2T1 (red color, 5 lux) 174 ± 2.2 c 74 ± 1.3a 72 ± 1.1ab
W2T2 (red color, 10 lux) 168 ± 2.5 b 78 ± 1.0b 76 ± 1.2c
W2T3 (red color, 15 lux) 171 ± 2.8 bc 76 ± 1.1ab 73 ± 1.4b
W3T1 (blue color, 5 lux) 166 ± 2.1a 82 ± 0.8b 80 ± 1.2cd
W3T2 (blue color, 10 lux) 159 ±1.9 a 85 ± 0.7c 83 ± 1.0d
W3T3 (blue color, 15 lux) 163 ± 2.1ab 83 ± 1.1bc 82 ± 1.1d
W4T1 (green color, 5 lux) 170 ± 2.3 b 77 ± 2.1b 75 ± 1.3bc
W4T2 (green color,10 lux) 167 ± 2.1b 82 ± 1.1b 79 ± 1.3cd
W4T3 (green color,15 lux) 168 ± 2.2 b 80 ± 1.3b 77 ± 1.2c
Description: W (light color) : W1: yellow, W2: red, W3: blue,
T (light intensity): T1: 5 lux, T2: 10 lux, T3: 15 lux.

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 Int. J. Biosci.
Factors might be responsible for the color of light has
a different response to the age at first laying ducks are
different wavelengths of each color of light. According
Shabiha et al., (2013) for the red wavelength is 700
nm, yellow 580 nm, green 520 nm, while the blue
color display has a shorter wavelength range of 480
nm. Color light with shorter wavelengths was faster in
color than stimulate the eye's retina with long
wavelengths, in stimulating the hypothalamus to
produce gonadotropin hormone and stimulate the
pituitary gland to produce FSH and LH (Hartwig and
Veen, 1979). Both these hormones play a role in
stimulating puberty (the process of reproduction).
Physiological process of egg production at the
beginning of adulthood, under the influence of light
gland of the brain is stimulated to produce sex
hormones that promote growth of ovarian and
oviduct and start producing eggs. In the light of the
vision process serves to stimulate the internal
reproductive cycle and stimulates the release of
hormones, both growth hormone and reproductive
hormones. Light can affect the behavior and
reproduction of birds, so that Pond and Wilson
(2000) states that the light that penetrates into the
brain to stimulate the hypothalamus poultry to
produce Gonadotropin hormone and stimulate the
pituitary gland to produce FSH and LH that stimulate
and maintain reproductive function.
Hen Day Egg Production
The combination of light colors and light intensity
significantly affected hen day egg production (P
<0.05) is presented in Table 1, in which the color
combination of light blue with a light intensity of 10
lux (W3T2) generates highest Alabio duck egg
production by 85 ± 0.7%, followed by color blue light
with less intensity of 15 lux (W3T3) by 83 ± 1.1% and
the light blue color with the intensity of 5 lux (W3T1)
and light green color with the intensity of 10 lux
(W4T2) by 82 ± 0.8% and 82 ± 1.1%. While the red
light and the yellow hen day egg production resulted
in lower 7-17% compared to the effect of light blue or
green color, supposedly different wavelengths of light
color that is affected the behavior of ducks as reported
by Rozenboim et al., (2004).
83 Danang Biyatmoko
2014
Senses of sight birds have sensitivity to color due to
the color stimulus received by the retina of the eye
and can distinguish colors with different sensitivity
levels (Lewis and Morris, 2000). The color of light is
useful in influencing the behavior patterns of poultry,
while sufficient light intensity would be able to bully
the stimulation of ovulation the egg (ovum) which
initiate egg production. Intensity is less in addition to
causing cannibalism also inhibits ovulation
stimulation that occurs due to inhibition of
gonadotropin secretion in birds (Classen, 2004),
while the intensity of that excess would disrupt the
rhythm of the daily (diurnal), foot and bone disorders
(Sanotra et al., 2002; Wong-Valle et al., 1993).
Shabiha et al., (2013) said that the color blue and the
green light has a shorter wavelength than the red and
yellow colors, so that the feeding behavior of ducks
were given a blue and green illumination will be
calmer, feed consumption thus largely used for the
production of eggs (Moore and Siopes, 2000). While
the colors yellow and red light causing more active
and aggressive ducks that feed consumption is widely
used to assist energy in motion activities in addition
to egg production. Efficiency of energy and protein is
fully manifested in the result in the production of eggs
(Rozenboim et al., 2004) so that in addition to higher
production, egg weight produced is also larger and
heavier. Further added by Sanotra et al., (2002)
optimal egg production will be obtained not only by
the metabolic processes of food but also strongly
influenced by environmental factors primarily
temperature and humidity, and lighting poultry cages.
Good lighting in ducks besides palatable light color
(blue, green) is also offset by the adequacy of light
intensity or amount of light lumens per watt which
should be accepted ducks.
Hen House Egg Poduction
The combination of light colors and light intensity
significantly affected to hen house egg production (p
<0.05) is presented in Table 1, in which the color
combination of light blue with a light intensity of 10
lux (W3T2) generates highest egg production by 83 ±
1.0%, followed by light blue color with the intensity of
 Int. J. Biosci.
15 lux (W3T3) by 82 ± 1.1% and light blue color with
the intensity of 5 lux (W3T1) of 80 ± 1.2%, whereas
the lowest achieved by treatment with the
achievements W1T1 production by 66 ± 2.2%. Egg
production in the hen house with the color blue light
treatment was significantly higher with 81.6%
compared to the achievements of the provision of
light colors green, red and yellow produces the lowest
production with the achievement of 69.3%, while for
the light intensity, the intensity of 10 lux markedly
better production reached 77.5% compared to that
given by 15 and the lowest intensity to 5 lux with egg
production performance 73.2 %. This indicates the
color of light greater influence than the increase in
the intensity of light in the hen house affect egg
production.
Light blue color will decrease locomotion (movement
activity) and stand on that duck duck becomes quieter
(Renden et al., 1996). Daily rhythm and light regulate
several important functions in the body such as body
temperature and various stages of metabolism
associated with feeding and digestion (Olanrewaju et
al., 2006). Feed consumption become more efficient
use of ducks to produce egg production entirely
because ducks do not waste a lot of energy for energy
purposes to locomotion in the move. Jin et al., (2001)
said that the provision of a light yellow color is less
well used on laying birds because it will decrease the
efficiency of the use of food (feed conversion) and the
daily egg production will decrease. The statement in
line with the results of this study, where the effects of
light yellow color indicates the lowest production
level both hen day egg production and egg production
hen house.
Acknowledgements
The author thanks to Simlitabmas DP2M Dikti for
funding this study.
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