METHOD FOR IMPROVING ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

Abstract: Use of relatively narrow band of wavelengths of visible radiation to illuminate animals, improves the growth rate and production of the animals. Near red radiation of between 600-700 nanometers wavelength improves egg production in poultry and light within a green wavelength band of between 480-600 nanometers increases the growth rate of poultry. Other animals are also improved by the use of these illuminations and the periods of time per day within which the illumination is utilized are controlled to also improve the production and growth rate of the animals. Lactation in mammals can be improved by use of near red radiation. The near red radiation also improves plant production and growth and inhibits premature aging and fruit spoilage.

Description: METHOD FOR IMPROVING ANIMAL HUSBANDRY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to animal husbandry in gener¬ al and, specifically, relates to improving production of animals, both for meat and eggs, by the use of specialized lighting. The invention has broad application to effecting changes in animal behavior and also has application to improving horticulture and plant production. The invironmental aspects of raising animals, and specific- : ally poultry, are known to have a direct relationship to the time at which the animals mature. In poultry, this corresponds to the time at which the chickens are available for market and when egg production commences, as well as the quality and quantity of such egg production. In regard to poultry raising, it has been proposed to utilize red filters over the illumin¬ ation sources or red windows in the hen house in an effort to decrease cannibalism among the poultry. Poultry have a strange attraction to the sight of blood, particularly blood appearing on other members of the flock. When a chicken has blood on it, the other chickens peck at that chicken and ultimately this pecking spreads in rather epidemic proportions throughout the flock. Use of red light, either through filtering natural sun¬ light or filtering incadescent illumination, will make the red blood appear somewhat black and, thus, will inhibit pecking among members of the flock and will prevent cannibalism. Addi¬ tionally, the use of infrared radiation as a source of heat, particularly in an incubator or brooder, for incubating the eggs and for brooding the chicks is also a known practice. Thus, it is known that there are some beneficial effects that may be obtained from using infrared radiation, generally termed red light, on poultry. Nevertheless, faced with this information the vast majority of poultry raisers use clear incandescen or white fluorescent artificial illumination sources. One drawback in placing red filters over the artificial illumination sources is that this represents an energy loss, since there are light transmission losses in the filter. Also, the kind of filters used are generally of poor filtering quality and are not totally effective in passing only red light. Similar¬ ly, infrared incandescant lighting generally produces too much heat. A large amount of heat in poultry is known to produce stressful conditions in the organisms, and this is then counter¬ productive when attempting to increase the production of the flock. The use of special lamps in raising plants has also become quite popular these days. These "grow lamps'* are usually inten¬ ded as a source of artificial sunlight with the added conveni¬ ence that exact photoperiods can be obtained by control of such lamps. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention teaches the use of specialized fluorescent lighting that provides visible radiation having wave¬ lengths falling within a predetermined band. The wavelengths in the specific band are not "infrared" but, rather, are "near red" and, in one embodiment, are out of the red band and are in the green band. The inventive use of the near red fluorescent lamp on -living animals has been found to modify body weight, promote sexual development, improve efficiency of food consumption, re¬ duce mortality caused by stress and cannibalism, and increase egg productivity in poultry. It has been found that animals exposed to this lamp's illumination will gain less total weight than animals exposed to natural light or wide-spectrum incandescent or fluorescent lamps. The reduced weight gain is due to reduced fat accumula¬ tion, which is a desirable feature leading to healthier animals and improved meat quality; an abundance of fatty cells is not always desirable. Exclusive exposure of new-born animals to this near red illumination will accelerate their sexual development. Preco¬ cious sexual maturation can be of economic advantage in animal husbandry and poultry management. Animals grown under this near red light are more frugal in their eating habits, thereby providing an economic benefit by de¬ creased feed costs. Moreover, use of this light does not reduce meat and egg quality, in fact, they are actually improved. By housing animals so that this near red light is the exclusive illumination, the animals are calmed down and exhibit less stress, with the important consequences of lower morbidity and mortality. The influence of this light will ameliorate stressful situations, thereby providing a great economic benefit in animal husbandry, fish and poultry management. Birds exposed to this near red light will produce more eggs than if exposed to natural light or fluorescent or incandescent illumination. With respect to poultry raising, the present invention teaches a method, wherein a lamp producing near red radiation is used for periods of illumination each day that are shorter than normal ambient light periods. Once the chickens reach a proper body weight for sexual maturation, as set forth in standard reference books on animal husbandry, the illumination periods are drastically increased to period that are longer than normal ambient light periods; this induces maximal sexual development. The invention teaches another method, wherein a lamp having an illumination spectrum in the green band is used until optimum weight for sexual maturation is reached, and then the "near red" radiation lamp is employed. The invention also finds utilization with mammals and, particularly, with dairy cows. By increasing the exposure of dairy cows to this near red radiation, in place of regular white light, and thereby lengthening the total photoperiods, lacta¬ tion; i.e. , milk yield, is improved. Use of near red radiation on plant life can provide bene¬ ficial results, such as increased growth rate, germination, flowering and fruit ripening. The lamps are of the fluorescent kind and may be formed as long tubes with internal electrodes with the appropriate electri¬ cal connections at either end. The construction of the lamp, save for the spectral emission and manner in which it is obtained, form no part of this invention. These lamps do not involve filters or exterior coatings and the specific wave¬ lengths of the output are a function totally attributed to the internal "phosphor" . The "phosphor" in the lamp producing the "near red" band illumination is comprised of magnesium fluoroger- manate. In this lamp, the fluorescence peaks at a wavelength of approximately 658 nanometers. The fluorescent lamp that is used to produce the green band radiation uses as its "phosphor" cerium terbium magnesium aluminate that has a peak emmission at a wavelength of approximately 5-+4 nanometers. The present invention recognizes that the use of red light is beneficial, however, it has been determined that the selec¬ tion of the actual wavelengths is much more critical than simply using "red light", and also that there are specific light sources, particularly fluorescent tubes, which can be construc¬ ted to provide these desired wavelengths of radiation. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for increasing the production of poultry by use of specialized visible radiation. It is another object of the present invention to provide a method using a fluorescent lamp for providing the specialized visible radiation for the animals. It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for increasing poultry production by using specialized wavelengths of visible radiation for specific periods of time and at specific times during the life of the animal. It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for use in increasing the environmental amenity and improving animal husbandry of not only poultry, but other live¬ stock animals, including pigs and lobsters, by use of special¬ ized illumination. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method for affecting and controlling human and insect behavior by use of specialized illumination. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for effecting changes in animals by delivering special¬ ized illumination from a source via fiber optics. It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a method for improving growth rate and food production of mammals. It is another object of the present invention to provide an economic source of illumination for horticultural and plant pro¬ duction. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method of cancer therapy for humans. The manner in which these and other objects are accomp¬ lished by the present invention will be set forth in the following detailed description. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention teaches a first advantageous method involving illuminating living organisms with near red radiation, wherein the preponderance of the visible emission has wave¬ lengths lying between 620 and 670 nanometers. Specifically, it is desirable to have 75% or more of the visible illumination energy produced by the lamp falling within these wavelength limits. The light source is preferably a phosphor of magnesium fluorogermanate whose fluroescence peaks at wavelengths of 650 nanometers, thereby falling exactly within the near-red range taught by the present invention. The following chart indicates the spectral distribution of the total emission from this lamp. Wavelength Band (Nanometers) % Total Emission < _ 600 9 600-620 2 620-6-40 16 640-660 33 660-680 35 680-700 -4 > 700 1 In one method of the present invention, poultry are illumin¬ ated by this inventive lamp for a normal period, wherein the inventive light source provides a transquilizing influence. This has been found to be specifically effective on layer pullets. Nevertheless, undesirable premature sexual development is pre¬ vented by using shortened photoperiods of illumination, for example, only 8 to 9 hours total illumination per day. Thus, the near red light provides a non-stressful environment, but, by controlling the length of time of its use, is prevented from causing premature sexual development before proper body weight is achieved. Once the proper body weight has been achieved, the photoperiods are drastically lengthened up to 1 to 16 hours of illumination per day, for example. This will then induce maximal sexual development, gonads will grow dramatically, and egg pro¬ duction will be improved significantly. As is well known, the proper body weight indicating sexual maturation is different for almost every breed or strain of chicken. There are growth charts readily available that indicate the proper weight for housing of layer hens; i.e., when egg production should commence. Neverthe¬ less, the hatchery, when supplying the pullets, will provide a recommended weight for commencing egg production. Current experiments indicate that use of this near red radiation also reduces stress in other animals. There is also the indication that illuminating pigs with radiation within this band reduces the condition called "tail bite" this is a kind of cannibalism induced by stress. The reduction of "tail bite" has economic significance. Also, lobster rearing at various stages of development, has been enhanced oy the use of this light, " particularly at the larval stage, and when cultured in communal conditions where very aggressive type of cannibalism is commonly X &?iVATlQ observed. Reduction of stress among lobsters with this illumin¬ ation also has direct economic benefits . The relationship between invertibrates and various wavelength light is discussed in an article by R. Menzel entitled "Spectral Sensitivity and Color Vision in Invertebrates" in the "Handbook of Sensory Physiology", Vol. VII - 6A, p. 552, Springerferlag Berlin - New York, 1981. Furthermore, use of this near red illumination upon poultry and other birds and livestock improves feeding efficiency, where¬ by as a consequence of being more frugal the animals will be leaner. Thus, this illumination source can also be used in human weight-control programs that include environmental modification. Lactation and, thus, milk yield in dairy cows is also improved by increasing exposure of the cows to near red radi¬ ation in place of regular white light. The actual photoperiods of illumination are lengthened by an increase of between 6-20%. Not only is lactation improved, but this near red illumination makes the animals calmer. The invention teaches the specific near red wavelengths that should be used. The influence on animals that is possible by manipulation of illumination periods is discussed in the article "Controlled Photoperiodic Environ¬ ment for Food Animals" by H. A. Tucker and E. A. Ringer in "Science", Vol. 216, pp 1381-1386, 1982. The present invention also teaches another method involving apparatus that produces light falling within a narrow green band of wavelengths between 400 to 600 nanometers. The invention teaches a fluorescent lamp that has 80% of its emitted radiation falling within this narrow green band. It has ee indicated in present experimentation in the poultry industry that radiation at wavelengths in this band has the valuable characteristic of increasing the growth rate of very young birds. Additionally, OMiPI er WHO . •$NATΛθ lobsters have also evidenced increased growth rate when sub¬ jected to illumination at these wavelengths. This lamp uses as its phosphor cerium terbium magnesium aluminate, and the peak percentage of total emissions of this lamp lie at wavelengths of approximately 5-4-4 nanometers. The following chart indicates the spectral distribution of the total emission from this lamp. Wavelength Band (Nanometers) % Total Emission < 4-80 9.7 4-80-500 11.4 500-520 1.2 520-540 3.6 540-560 50.7 560-580 2.4 580-500 9.2 600-620 2.0 " 620 9.8 It has been found that radiation within this specific wave¬ length band promotes growth in many organisms. Specifically, it has been found that radiation at these wavelengths particularly promotes growth in poultry. Thus, the present invention teaches a method for improving poultry production by first using the above fluorescent illumination in the green band to illuminate layer pullets until proper body weight for sexual development to proceed has been obtained. As set forth hereinabove, this weight is easily learned and is usually provided by the hatchery. It has been found that such proper body weight for sexual develop¬ ment is arrived at 2 to 4 weeks earlier than when using conventional illumination sources. At the time when the proper body weight is achieved, the illumination sources are switched and in place of the green band illumination, the poultry are -^illuminated with the near red radiation described above. Through tests and experiments in the poultry industry, the inventor has found that near red radiation produces maximal sexual develop¬ ment. Thus, use of these two radiation sources results in a significant economic benefit, due to earlier and more prolonged oviposition with no detriment to egg quality. The present invention also contemplates a radiation de¬ livery system employing fiber optics. In this system, the fiber optic distribution of the specific wavelength radiation would be such that each animal or each animal container would obtain illumination via the fiber optic system, but the illumination would originate from a single source or location. The light source being either or both of the above-described inventive light sources. In this way, the homogeneity of photon distribu¬ tion will be improved; there will be no temperature increases caused by the infrared radiation or heat from the illumination sources; the system will be more efficient, since fewer bulbs will be required and, thus, will become more energy efficient and improve the economy of the operation; the maintenance of the light fixtures will be drastically improved, since less cleaning and changing of bulbs and the like will be required because the light sources can be somewhat removed from the actual location of the animals; and, finally, s-afety will be improved, since there will be fewer electrical outlets and less wiring involved. As an added feature of the present invention, it has been found that the lamp providing illumination in the near red area of the optical spectrum is of further utility, since it produces radiation that is essentially invisible to insects. A typical problem involved with animal illumination systems is that the light fixtures attract large quantities of insects, however, because the present invention teaches a lamp producing radiation that is invisible to insects, no such insect attraction is present. This means that in areas where insects can be a nuisance, both the health hazard of the insect and the burden of increased lamp maintenance due to the insect infestation can be almost completely avoided. The present invention also teaches a method whereby the near red lamp having the majority of the visible output having wavelengths falling between 600-670 nanometers will provide an economic source of illumination for horticulture and plant pro¬ duction. This specific band of illumination affects phytochrome- modulated responses in plants , involving growth and maturation phenomena, such as leaf and stem expansion, germination, caratenoid and anthocyan synthesis; ethylene production, flower¬ ing, and fruit production. A discussion of the general effects of controlling light on plants is found in the text "Plant Growth and Development", p. 329, McGraw-Hill, New York 1964 and in the "Annual Review of Plant Physiology", M. Leiberman, p. 572, Vol. 30, 1979. The control of production of ethylene by a plant can be extremely important, since ethylene production is related to fruit ripening and aging, as evidenced by leaf yellowing. Thus, control of ethylene production can control premature aging, which is essential to fruit storage and the retardation of spoilage. Use of near red illumination on plants and fruit effectively abolishes ethylene production and, thus, leads to control of ripening and prevention of premature aging and spoil¬ age. It has also been discovered that this near red radiation is useful in cancer therapy. Haematoporphyrin derivative is a dye that is selectively accumulated by cancer tumors. A discussion of this is set forth by P. V. Hariharan et al, "Int'l. Journal of Radiation Biology", Vol. 37, pp 691-694, 1980. It is found that haematrporphyrin derivative is activated by near red light with an absorption peak at wavelengths of 630 nanometers and has been found to cure experimental tumor systems and various human cutaneous and subcutaneous malignant lesions. What actually occurs is that singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radicals are produced by the interaction of near red radiation with haematoporphyrin derivative. This photodynamic effect leads to localized cell destruction that can be useful and beneficial in cancer therapy. This near red radiation again can be produced by the above- described fluorescent lamps having a phosphor of fluorogermanate that fluoresces at the peak wavelength of 550 nanometers. This near red radiation also has invigorating and tranquil- izing effects in humans that, when the photoperiods are suitably controlled, can be particularly beneficial. See the article by D. B. Lindsley in the "Annual Review of Psychology", Vol. Ill, pp 323-348 , 1956. It has been observed that short term exposure (5-15 minutes) to this near red radiation will produce a psycho- physiological response in humans, characterized by increased arousal, tension, and excitrnent. This invigorating reaction can be particularly violent in neurotic persons. Long term exposure, for periods of hours, will produce a calming effect, particular¬ ly useful in cases of excessive aggressiveness. This tranquil- izing effect is useful and beneficial and can be obtained using the near red radiation as described above. The foregoing is presented by way of example only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, except as set forth in the appended claims. fo, WHO , !^NATIθ5

Claims: WHAT I CLAIM IS ; 1. Method for improving egg production in poultry compri¬ sing the steps of: causing the poultry to be illuminated only from a selected light source; selecting the light source to have at least 75% of its visible radiation within a wavelength band of 600 to 670 nano¬ meters; controlling the period of time during which the poultry are illuminated by the selected source to be a first selected' time period; determining when the poultry reach a preselected body weight; and increasing the period of time during which the poultry are illuminated by the selected source to a second selected time period greater than the first selected time period. 2. The method of Claim 1, wherein the step of selecting the light source comprises the step of selecting a fluroescent lamp having a phosphor of magnesium fluorogermanate. 3. The method of Claim 1, wherein the step of selecting the light source comprises the step of selecting a fluorescent lamp having a phosphor with a fluorescence that peaks at wavelengths of 650 nanometers. 4. The method of Claim 1, wherein the step of controlling the period of time to a first selected time period includes the step of selecting the first time period to be between 8 to 9 hours per twenty-four hour period. 5. The method of Claim 1, wherein the step of controlling the period of time to a second selected time period includes the step of selecting the second time period to be between 14 to 16 hours per twenty-four hour period. 6. The method of Claim 1, wherein the step of causing the poultry to be illuminated only from a selected light source includes the step of causing the illumination to be incident upon the poultry via fiber-optic delivery system. 7. Method for improving poultry production, comprising the steps of: causing the poultry to be illuminated only from a first selected light source; selecting the first light source to have 30% of its visible illumination falling within a 'wavelength band of 400-6GG nano¬ meters; determining when the poultry reach a predetermined body weight; terminating the illumination from the first selected light source; causing the poultry to be illuminated only from a second selected light source; ^^STIOS selecting the second light source to have 75% of its visible radiation falling within a wavelength band of 600-670 nanometers. 8. The method of Claim 7, wherein the step of selecting the first light source comprises the step of selecting a fluorescent lamp having a phosphor of magnesium fluorogermanate. 9. The method of Claim 7, wherein the step of selecting the light source comprises the step of selecting a fluorescent lamp having a phosphor with a peak fluorescence at wavelengths of 650 nanometers. 10. The method of Claim 7, wherein the step of causing the poultry to be illuminated from a first selected light source and the step of causing the poultry to be illuminated by a second selected light source include the steps of providing an illumin¬ ation delivery system comprised of fiber-optic elements. 11. A method for improving animal production, comprising the steps of causing the animal to be illuminated with radiation in the near red wavelength band having wavelengths between 600-670 nanometers, and controlling the time period within v/hich the animal is illuminated with this radiation. 12. The method of Claim 11, wherein the step of causing the animal to be illuminated includes the step of providing fluores¬ cent tubes having a phosphor of magnesium fluorogermanate and having a fluorescence peaking at wavelengths of 650 nanometers. 13. The method of Claim 11, wherein the step of causing the animals to be illuminated only with radiation in the near red wavelength band includes the step of causing the illumination to be incident upon the animal via a fiber-optic delivery system. 1 4 . A method of increasing growth rate of animals, compri¬ sing the steps of causing the animal to be illuminated with radiation in a green wavelength band between 400-600 nanometers, and controlling the time period within which the animal is illuminated with this radiation. 15. The method of Claim 14, wherein the step of causing the animal to be illuminated includes the step of providing a first fluorescent tube with the phosphor of cerium terbium magnesium aluminate having a fluorescent peaking at wavelengths of 5-44 nanometers. 16. A method of effecting changes in behavior of animals, comprising the steps of causing the animals to be illuminated with visible radiation in the near red wavelength band having wavelengths ' between 600-570 nanometers, and controlling the period of time during which the animals are illuminated with this radiation. 17. The method of Claim 16, wherein the step of causing the animals to be illuminated includes the step of providing fluroes¬ cent tubes having a phosphor of magnesium fluorogermanate having a fluorescence peaking at wavelengths of 650 nanoπieters. 18. A method of inhibiting insects from infestation of selected areas, comprising the steps of illuminating the selec¬ ted areas only with visible radiation of selected wavelengths, and selecting the wavelengths to fall within a near red wave¬ length band of radiation with wavelengths between 600 to 670 nanometers. 19. The method of Claim 18, wherein the step of illumin¬ ating the selected areas includes the step of using a fluores¬ cent tube producing radiation 75% of which falls within the near red band having wavelengths between 600-670 nanometers. 20. A method for improving lactation in mammals, comprising the steps of illuminating the mammals with white light, control¬ ling the period of time of white light illumination, providing additional illumination in place of the white light consisting substantially of near red illumination, and controlling the period of time of the near red illumination on the mammals. 21. The method of Claim 20, wherein the step of providing near red illumination includes the step of providing fluorescent tubes having a phosphor of magnesium fluorogermanate and having a fluorescence peaking at wavelengths of 650 nanometers. 22. A method of affecting phytochrome-modulated responses in plants, comprising the steps of causing the plants to be illuminated only •/ • ith radiation in the near red wavelength band having wavelengths between 600 and 570 nanometers, and control¬ ling the time period during which the plant is illuminated. 23. The method of Claim 22, /"herein the step of causing the plant to be illuminated with near red radiation includes the step of providing fluroescent tubes having a phosphor of magne¬ sium fluorogermanate and having a fluorescence peaking ε.t wave¬ lengths of 650 nanometers. 24. The method of Claim 22, wherein the step of causing the plant to be illuminated by near red radiation includes the step of inhibiting the production of ethylene gas by tne plant. 25. The method of Claim 23, wherein the step cf causing tne plant to be illuminated by near red radiation includes the step of causing the fruits of the plant to be illuminated by near red radiation. OMPI 26. A method of cancer therapy comprising the steps of applying haematoporphyrin derivative to cancerous tissue, activa¬ ting the haematoporphyrin derivative by radiation having wave¬ lengths in the near red band, and causing the activated haemato¬ porphyrin to produce s-inglet oxygen and hydroxyl radials, there¬ by causing localized cell destruction in the cancerous tissue. 27. The method of Claim 26, wherein the step of activating the haematoporphyrin derivative by radiation includes the step of applying near red radiation having an absorption peak at wave¬ lengths of 630 nanometers. 28. The method of Claim 26, wherein the step of activating the haematoporphyrin derivative by radiation includes the' step of providing fluorescent tubes having a phosphor of magnesium fluorogermanate and having a fluorescence peaking at wavelengths of 650 nanometers. 29. A method of producing a psychophysiological response in humans, comprising the steps of illuminating a human with radi¬ ation in the near red wavelength band having wavelengths between 500 and 670 nanometers, and controlling the time period during which the human is illuminated. 30. The method of Claim 29, further comprising producing an invigorating effect in humans by controlling the illumination to short periods of greater than 5 minutes and less than 30 minutes . 31. The method of Claim 30, further comprising producing a tranquilizing effect by controlling the illumination to periods of time greater than one hour.

Inventors: SCHONBERG MICHAEL, SCHONBERG, MICHAEL
Applicants: SCHONBERG MICHAEL, SCHONBERG, MICHAEL
Application year: 1983
Main classification: A61N5
IPC codes: A01G7, A01K29, A01K45, A01K61, A01K67, A61N5