Saving energy and promoting health with sensor-based light adjustments

The BroilerNet project involves a bottom-up approach to identify challenges and innovation needs for broiler farmers in Europe, and to collect promising and already successfully implemented Good Practices to meet the challenges in questions. The top Good Practices selected by experts within the three thematic areas (animal health management, animal welfare and sustainability) have been summarized in factsheets. Climate protection is currently more relevant than ever. The careful use of resources is the order of the day in all areas of the value chain. this also includes sustainable, efficient energy solutions. Climate protection as well as the constantly rising energy prices make saving energy to an important issue in livestock farming. And especially in the area of broiler production, which is particularly energy-intensive. Broiler barns in Germany often have windows and artificial lighting, THus, when the sun is shining the light intensity in the barn can quickly reach much higher values than the required minimum value of 20 lux. A too bright environment can directly harm animal health, as the animals crowd into the darker areas. This restricts the animals' behaviour, leads to poor bedding quality in these areas which can result in foot pad damage. A sensor monitored light intensity can help to save more energy and to keep light intensity in a good range for the broiler chickens.