WELFARE FROM THE DUCK�S POINT OF VIEW: IMPROVEMENT OF POULTRY WELFARE THROUGH A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE DUCKVISUAL SYSTEM.

Our ultimate goal is to improve breeder duck welfare in commercial barns while maintaining optimal productivity. Our project objectives are to 1) measure different visual physiology traits (DBP and retina) at different life stages under different light regimes, 2) establish how ducks perceive items and conspecifics in their environment using widely established mathematical models and reverse-engineer those models to identify optimal LED lights (based on wavelength and intensity) that will optimize both fertility and the ducks' visual perception of their environment, and 3) test the effectiveness of these optimal LED lighting systems to maximize both fertility and welfare, during different life stages. We believe that given the interdisciplinary nature of our proposal and team, we will be able to successfully develop a lighting system that is tailored to ducks' physiological needs at different life stages in order to reduce unwanted behaviors and improve their welfare.