본 연구는 LED 조명의 파장이 육용종계의 생산성, 번식호르몬, 면역 수준 및 행동에 미치는 영향을 확인하고자 실시하였다. 25주령 아바에이커 192수를 공시하였다. 처리구는 백색(5,000 K), 녹색(520 nm), 황색(570 nm) 및 적색(620 nm) LED 전구를 사용하여 처리구당 6반복, 반복당 8수씩 임의 배치하였으며, 15주간 사양실험을 실시하였다. 산란율은 적색 처리구에서 유의적으로 증가하였고(P<0.05), 난중은 적색 처리구에서 유의적으 로 감소하였다(P<0.05). 수정율, 부화율, 병아리 체중, IgG 수준 및 혈액 생화학 조성은 처리구 간에 통계적인 차이가 없었다. 번식호르몬인 FSH와 LH 농도는 적색 LED 처리구에서 현저히 높게 나타났다(P<0.05). 또한 행동 관찰 결과, 적색 처리구에서 바닥 긁기, 바닥 쪼기 및 깃털 쪼기 행동이 다른 처리구에 비해 유의적으로 높게 나타났다(P<0.05). 본 연구 결과, 육용종계에 LED 점등을 사용할 경우 적색 처리구에서 번식호르몬의 증가와 산란율이 높아지는 것을 확인하였다. 그러나 적색 처리구에서 바닥 긁기, 바닥 쪼기 및 깃털 쪼기 행동이 높게 나타난 원인을 밝히기 위한 추가 연구가 필요한 것으로 보인다. 따라서 산란성적, 번식 호르몬 분비를 고려할 때 육용종계에 적색 LED 조명이 유리하다는 것을 확인할 수 있었다.
This study was conducted to investigate the effect of LED light wavelength (color) on the egg production, reproductive hormones, immunoglobulin G (IgG), hatch characteristics, and behavior of broiler breeder hens. A total of 192 birds (25 weeks old) were randomly divided as follows; white (W; 5,000 k), green (G; 520 nm), yellow (Y; 570 nm), and red (R; 620 nm) treatments with six replicates of eight birds on each floor pen. Egg production of hens was measured daily and chicks hatched from those were reared under an incandescent lamp for seven days. Blood was collected from the breeder hens and hatched chicks at the end of the experiment. Behaviors of breeders were weekly recorded by video camera over each pen. The results showed that higher (P<0.05) egg production was found in breeders illuminated under R than in those illuminated under W, G, and Y. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were significantly (P<0.05) increased in R treatment than in the other treatments. The fertilization rate and hatching rate were similar (P>0.05) among the hens in each treatment. Body weight of broiler chicks hatched from hens illuminated under the colored LEDs also showed no difference (P>0.05). The R-exposed group spent time in more (P<0.05) ground pecking, ground scratching, and feather pecking behavior than W, G, and Y-exposed those. Colored LEDs illumination did not affect (P>0.05) serum IgG concentration of breeder hens and their chicks. Accordingly, these findings suggest that the LED-R could be the most appropriate illumination for broiler breeder hens which improve egg production and reproductive hormones.