Investigation Into Measured and Modeled Illuminance in Commercial Broiler Houses Providing Natural Light

Abstract

Light is a critical factor in managing broilers, impacting their physiology and behavior in commercial poultry houses. This thesis investigates the influence of window configurations on light intensity and spatial distribution in broiler houses. Chapter 1 compares light intensity and spatial uniformity in broiler houses with different window layouts during brooding and tunnel conditions. Significant differences in light distribution were observed between one-sided window (1SW) and two-sided window (2SW) configurations. Spatial mapping and statistical analysis revealed higher light intensities in the 2SW treatment for tunnel conditions. Uniformity was lower in the 1SW treatment, indicating the impact of window size and placement on lighting. Chapter 2 explores the use of AGI32 software to predict light intensity in broiler houses with varying window configurations. The study demonstrates the software's effectiveness in modeling the lighting environment and highlights the influence of surface reflectance on model accuracy.