Methods for growth stimulation

• US 6,789,500 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2002
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Life-Science Innovations, LLC, Optimum Light Technology, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Optimum Light Technology, Ltd., Willmar Poultry Company, Inc.
• Inventors: Rozenboim, Israel
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAW, ELIZABETH ANNE
• Application Number:
  US10/087,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20030003437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 119/6.8, 119/6.5, 119/6.6
• US Class Current: 119/6.8
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 45/007 Injecting or otherwise treating hatching eggs

Abstract

The present invention provides methods for exposing an avian embryo to light during incubation. The methods may be used to increase a bird'"'"'s weight, increase muscle weight in a bird, and decrease the mortality rate of a bird.

Claims

1. A method for exposing an embryo to light, the method comprising exposing an egg to a monochromatic light for a photoperiod comprising a light period and dark period, wherein the monochromatic light has an intensity of at least about 0.001 watts/m² to no greater than about 0.2 watts/m².

2. The method of claim 1 wherein each light period and each dark period are each independently at least about 3 minutes.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein each light period and each dark period are each independently at least about 15 minutes.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein each light period comprises a period of about 3 to about 15 minutes, and wherein each dark period comprises a period of about 3 to about 15 minutes.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the monochromatic light comprises a peak wavelength of at least about 500 nanometers (nm) to no greater than about 590 nm.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the monochromatic light comprises a peak wavelength of at least about 550 nm to no greater than about 570 nm.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the egg is a chicken egg or a turkey egg.

30. The method of claim 1 wherein the monochromatic light comprises a peak wavelength of at least about 550 nm to no greater than about 570 nm.

8. A method for exposing an embryo to light, the method comprising exposing an egg to a monochromatic light for a photoperiod comprising a light period and dark period, wherein each light period and each dark period are each independently at least about 3 minutes, wherein the monochromatic light comprises a peak wavelength of about 560 nm, half band +/−

about 15 nm, and wherein the monochromatic light has an intensity of at least about 0.08 watts/m² to no greater than about 0.2 watts/m².

9. A method for increasing a bird'"'"'s weight, the method comprising:

exposing an egg to a monochromatic light for a photoperiod, wherein the photoperiod comprises a light period and a dark period, wherein each light period comprises a period of about 3 to about 15 minutes, and wherein each dark period comprises a period of about 3 minutes to about 15 minutes; and

hatching the egg, wherein the bird that hatches from the egg has a greater weight at about 28 days after hatching compared to a bird that hatches from an egg not exposed to the monochromatic light.

10. A method for increasing a bird'"'"'s weight, the method comprising:

exposing an egg to a monochromatic light for a photoperiod, wherein the monochromatic light has an intensity of at least about 0.001 watts/m² to no greater than about 0.2 watts/m²; and

hatching the egg, wherein the bird that hatches from the egg has a greater weight at about 28 days after hatching compared to a bird that hatches from an egg not exposed to the monochromatic light.

11. A method for increasing a bird'"'"'s weight, the method comprising:

exposing an egg to a monochromatic light for a photoperiod comprising a light period and a dark period, wherein each light period and each dark period are each independently at least about 3 minutes, wherein the monochromatic light comprises a peak wavelength of about 560 nm, half band +/−

about 15 nm, and wherein the monochromatic light has an intensity of at least about 0.08 watts/m² to no greater than about 0.2 watts/m²; and

hatching the egg, wherein the bird that hatches from the egg has greater weight at about 28 days after hatching compared to a bird that hatches from an egg not exposed to the monochromatic light.

12. A method for increasing muscle weight in a bird, the method comprising:

exposing an egg to a monochromatic light for a photoperiod; and

hatching the egg, wherein the bird that hatches from the egg has greater muscle weight at about 28 days after hatching compared to a bud that hatches from an egg not exposed to the monochromatic light.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the photoperiod comprises a light period and a dark period.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein each light period and each dark period are each independently at least about 3 minutes.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein each light period and each dark period are each independently least about 15 minutes.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein each light period comprises a period of about 3 to about 15 minutes, and wherein each dark period comprises a period of about 3 to about 15 minutes.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the monochromatic light comprises a peak wavelength of at least about 500 nm to no greater than about 590 nm.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the monochromatic light comprises a peak wavelength of at least about 550 nm to no greater than about 570 nm.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein the monochromatic light has an intensity of least about 0.001 watts/m² to no greater than about 0.2 watts/m².

20. The method of claim 12 wherein the egg is a chicken egg or a turkey egg.

21. The method of claim 12 wherein the muscle is breast muscle.

22. A method for increasing muscle weight in a bird, the method comprising:

exposing an egg to a monochromatic light for a photoperiod comprising a light period and a dark period, wherein the monochromatic light comprises a peak wavelength of at least about 550 nm to no greater than about 570 nm; and

hatching the egg, wherein the bird that hatches from the egg has greater muscle weight at about 28 days after hatching compared to a bird that hatches from an egg not exposed to the monochromatic light.

23. A method for increasing muscle weight in a bird, the method comprising:

exposing an egg to a monochromatic light for a photoperiod comprising a light period and a dark period, wherein each light period and each dark period are each independently at least about 3 minutes, and wherein the monochromatic light comprises a peak wavelength of at least about 550 nm to no pester then about 570 nm; and

hatching the egg, wherein the bird that hatches from the egg has greater muscle weight at about 28 days after hatching compared to a bird that hatches from an egg not exposed to the monochromatic light.

24. A method for increasing muscle weight in a bird, the method comprising:

exposing an egg to a monochromatic light for a photoperiod comprising a light period and a dark period, wherein each light period and each dark period we each independently at least about 3 minutes, wherein the monochromatic light comprises a peak wavelength of about 560 nm, half band +/−

about 15 nm, and wherein the monochromatic light has an intensity of at least about 0.08 watts/m² to no greater than about 0.2 watts/m²; and

hatching the egg, wherein the bird that hatches from the egg has greater muscle weight at about 28 days after hatching compared to a bird that hatches from an egg not exposed to the monochromatic light.

25. A method for decreasing a mortality rate of a bird, the method comprising:

exposing in egg to a monochromatic light fix a photoperiod, wherein the photoperiod comprises a light period and a dark period, wherein each light period comprises a period of about 3 to about 15 minutes, and wherein each dark period comprises a period of about 3 to about 15 minutes, and

hatching the egg, wherein the mortality rate of a bird that hatches from the egg has a lower mortality rate compared to a bird that hatches from an egg not exposed to the monochromatic light.

26. A method for decreasing a mortality rate of a bird, the method comprising:

exposing an egg to a monochromatic light for a photoperiod, wherein the monochromatic light has an intensity of at least about 0.001 watts/m² to no greater than about 0.2 watts/m²; and

hatching the egg, wherein the mortality rate of a bird that hatches egg has a lower mortality rate compared to a bird that hatches from an egg not exposed to the monochromatic light.

27. A method for decreasing a mortality rate of a bird, the method comprising:

exposing an egg to a monochromatic light for a photoperiod comprising a light period and a dark period, wherein each light period and each dark period are each independently at least about 3 minutes, and wherein the monochromatic light comprises a peak wavelength of about 560 nm, half band +/−

about 15 nm, and wherein the monochromatic light has an intensity of at least about 0.08 watts/m² to no greater than about 0.2 watts/m²; and

hatching the egg, wherein the mortality rate of a bird that hatches from the egg has a lower mortality rate compared to a bird that hatches from an egg not exposed to the monochromatic light.

28. A method for exposing an embryo to light, the method comprising exposing an egg to a monochromatic light for a photoperiod comprising a light period and dark period, wherein each light period comprises a period of about 3 to about 15 minutes, and wherein each dark period comprises a period of about 3 to about 15 minutes.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the monochromatic light comprises a peak wavelength of at least about 500 nanometers (nm) to no greater than about 590 nm.

31. The method of claim 28 wherein the monochromatic light has an intensity of at least about 0.001 watts/m² to no greater than about 0.2 watts/m².

32. The method of claim 28 wherein the egg is a chicken egg or a turkey egg.