DE202022106365U1 - Lighting system for pig farming - Google Patents

Abstract

Lighting system (10) for pig breeding, at least comprising:
- a lighting device (12) with at least two separately controllable lighting modes, or at least two lighting devices each with a different lighting mode, the light in an animal light lighting mode having a light spectrum optimized for domestic pigs with an intensity maximum at a wavelength between 410 nm and 480 nm, and wherein the light in a general light lighting mode has a light spectrum with an intensity maximum at a wavelength between 510 nm and 610 nm and
- a time control device for switching the lighting device (12) on and off daily and/or for switching between the lighting modes within the same lighting device or between the lighting devices with different lighting modes.

Description

The invention relates to a lighting system for pig breeding.

Domestic pigs have a different spectral sensitivity for visual perception than humans. Commercially available lighting in pig stalls is largely still made up of gas discharge lamps. The brightness and spectrum of these lamps are designed to improve the work of people in the stable, e.g. B. when feeding, but the animals sometimes find it unpleasant. This means that such lighting no longer meets today's requirements for animal welfare and is one of the stress-causing factors for animals, e.g. B. lead to behavioral problems such as tail biting, etc.

The object of the invention is therefore to make the lighting in pigsties more pleasant for animals.

This task is solved by a lighting system for pig breeding with the features of claim 1.

This switches the stable lighting between a first lighting mode, in which the light is emitted with a light spectrum and intensity optimized for domestic pigs, and a second lighting mode, in which the light spectrum and intensity is optimized for human operating personnel.

For example, before feeding, the greenish light, which pigs perceive as more intense, is dimmed and the reddish light, which is perceived as less intense, is increased. Once feeding is complete, these values are adjusted back to the daily curve.

For this purpose, the same lights are preferably used, each of which can display at least two operating modes. The lights have several LED light sources with different light frequency spectrums. The first light frequency spectrum includes wavelengths between 400 nm and 510 nm, in particular with an intensity maximum between 410 nm and 480 nm. This spectrum in the blue-green range is particularly suitable for domestic pigs and is less noticeable to the human eye. The spectrum is referred to as “green light” in the description below and is assigned to an animal light lighting mode.

The second light frequency spectrum includes wavelengths between 480 nm and 680 nm, in particular with an intensity maximum at a wavelength between 510 nm and 610 nm, and corresponds to the spectrum from yellow to green to red that can be perceived by pigs and humans; This spectrum is hereinafter referred to as “red light” and is assigned to a general light lighting mode. By switching to a light source suitable for the animal light lighting mode or by a coordinated overlay of both light sources, the visible light is optimized for the pigs by emphasizing the green area or, alternatively, white light is generated for the general light lighting mode to facilitate human work in the To make the stable easier.

The change in the intensity of the light emitted by the LEDs in one or the other spectrum takes place in the lighting control system according to the invention via amplitude modulation, so that flickering effects, as often occur with pulse width modulated LEDs, are avoided.

The lighting control system also avoids an abrupt switchover, which means that the change from one lighting mode to the other occurs overlappingly. If, for example, the feeding time is selected as the time for changing between the lighting modes, then the illuminance of the green light channel is successively reduced by a first ramp control module, for example to 50%, while at the same time the illuminance of the red light channel is increased using a second ramp control module. After the set time, the ramp control modules control again in the opposite direction, that is, the light in the green spectrum optimized for animals becomes brighter again and the intensity of the red light is reduced to zero, so that the animals are in the phases between feeding times can rest in green lighting that is pleasant for them.

Alternatively or in addition to the feeding times, the time of day is also included in the lighting control system in order to simulate a natural daily routine for the pigs kept in the stable. The green light channel is raised in the early morning by the first ramp control module and then shut down again in the evening. In addition, the second channel for the red light is turned up and down again at times in the morning and evening. The red light is preferably switched on before the green light and reaches the maximum intensity when the green light has also reached the first controlled maximum. This creates an additional stimulus for the animals in the morning and evening to condition them for the simulated daily routine. In addition, in the phase of Superimposition of the light sources makes inspection by staff easier.

The lighting control system can be used to control individual compartments or areas that are locally lit differently due to windows or shadows.

Preferably, the light control system is connected to or integrated into a feeding computer.

Furthermore, a manual switch is preferably provided, that is, the farmer can temporarily switch the light spectrum and brightness to a predetermined value using a manually operated lighting mode switch. When you leave, you will switch back to automatic mode. This can preferably be done by means of a second time control device, so that the reset to the animal light mode is carried out in a time-controlled manner if the manual reset is forgotten.

The lighting system according to the invention also meets the requirements of Section 26(2) of the Animal Welfare and Farm Animal Husbandry Ordinance for the keeping of pigs, which requires lighting for 8 hours per day with 80 lux corresponding to 100% of the lighting intensity and outside this time less than 40 lux corresponding to 50 % of the lighting intensity is provided.

• - höhere Gewichtszunahmen der Tiere durch bessere Futterverwertung, Reduktion von Schwanzbeißen, positiver Einfluss auf Wundheilung und Hormonhaushalt, damit gesündere und produktivere Tiere und niedrigere Mortalitätsraten;
• - Energiekostenersparnis durch geringeren Stromverbrauch der LED-Leuchten gegenüber veralteten Leuchtmitteln, durch eine reduzierte Anzahl von Leuchten und durch automatisches Dimmen bzw. Ausschalten der Beleuchtung nach festgelegtem Zeitplan.

A light control system according to the invention results in the following advantages in pig breeding:

• - higher animal weight gain through better feed utilization, reduction in tail biting, positive influence on wound healing and hormonal balance, resulting in healthier and more productive animals and lower mortality rates;
• - Energy cost savings through lower power consumption of LED lights compared to outdated light sources, through a reduced number of lights and through automatic dimming or switching off of the lighting according to a set schedule.

• 1 einen Schweinestall mit einem Beleuchtungssystem in schematischer Ansicht von oben;
• 2 eine Lichtverteilungskurve;
• 3 einen ersten Intensitätsverlauf der rot und grün strahlenden LED-Elemente innerhalb einer Beleuchtungseinrichtung im Tagesverlauf; und
• 4 einen zweiten Intensitätsverlauf der rot und grün strahlenden LED-Elemente innerhalb einer Beleuchtungseinrichtung im Tagesverlauf.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings. The figures show in detail:

• 1 a pigsty with a lighting system in a schematic view from above;
• 2 a light distribution curve;
• 3 a first intensity curve of the red and green LED elements within a lighting device over the course of the day; and
• 4 a second intensity curve of the red and green LED elements within a lighting device over the course of the day.

In 1 a pigsty 1 with a lighting system 10 is shown in a schematic view from above. The pig sty 1 is shown here as an example with six boxes 2, which are arranged on the right and left of an aisle 3. In the middle between a pair of boxes 2, an LED-based lighting device 12 is installed in aisle 3, which can be operated in at least two different lighting modes. The curve lines within the boxes 2 mark the areas in which there is an illuminance of more than 80 lux in the middle and 50 lux to 80 lux in the edge areas. With only one lighting device 12 per pair of boxes, sufficient and standard brightness is achieved. Only in the area of feeding devices and/or columns, which are arranged at the corners of the boxes 2, does the illuminance drop to less than 50 lux in small areas. The lighting device 12 is switched on and off in a time-controlled manner via a lighting control device 11 and is also switched between a general light lighting mode and an animal light lighting mode, the switching not occurring suddenly, but continuously via a ramp control module integrated into the lighting control device 11. Button switches 13 enable manual switching to the general lighting mode when entering the stable 1, e.g. B. to carry out or monitor feeding, with an automatic reset to the automatic control mode preferably taking place after a waiting time has elapsed.

2 shows a sensitivity curve 21 for pigs and a sensitivity curve 22 for humans, where the illumination intensity is plotted against the wavelength. Such a sensitivity curve is also referred to as a brightness sensitivity curve, in which a relative spectral degree of brightness sensitivity is reflected. Another common name is “V-lambda curve”.

A spectral light emission corresponding to this curve is perceived as “bright” by the relevant observers. For optimal or maximum illumination of an animal stable, the lighting device of the invention contains additional components of the emitted light in the range between 360 nm and approximately 500 nm. These are provided in the area of peak 23. The color of light is colloquially referred to as “blue” or “UV” in reference to the human perception of color. designated. These additional light spectrum components provided according to the invention in a lighting mode with a wavelength of up to approximately 460 nm do not increase the technical intensity value of the lamp in [lumens] because they are not below the sensitivity curve 22 for humans. They are colloquially referred to as “green”. If a person looks at animals in this light, they appear ashen-grayish/bluish, since the human sense of color differs from the sense of brightness. If lighting for humans only contained the spectral components below the so-called sensitivity curve 22, the color rendering would be correspondingly poor and no injuries on the animals could be recognized. This effect is used, for example, in public toilets to make drug consumption more difficult because drug addicts cannot see veins in this light.

For humans, additional spectral ranges from around 620 nm are required, colloquially referred to as “red”, in order to achieve a high CRI (Colour Rendering Index) and high color rendering and thus optimal lighting for humans to evaluate animal health . A lighting mode that makes this possible is described in the context of the present invention as a general light lighting mode.

The spectral ranges mentioned can be covered in particular by superimposing red and green light-emitting diodes, so that yellowish light tones can be achieved by color mixing. Additional blue light-emitting diodes may be provided to produce white light in the mixture.

In 3 a first exemplary intensity curve of the red-emitting LED elements within a lighting device is shown as a solid line over the course of the day; The intensity curve of the green LED elements within a lighting device is shown as a dashed line. The animal light lighting mode is created by the dominance of the green LEDs. It is clearly visible that this mode prevails for most of the day. The general light lighting mode is created by overlaying the red LED elements.

The lighting control here is independent of feeding, which means that the lighting control is used here to simulate the course of the day in stables without daylight or to change or increase the natural light in stables with daylight in such a way that the animals find it pleasant .

In the exemplary course according to 3 The lights are switched off from 9 p.m. In the morning, from 3 a.m. onwards, the intensity of the red light will be ramped up, which means that the animals will initially be woken up by the bright and less pleasant red components. From 3:30 a.m. green light is switched on and the intensity is increased linearly up to 50% in order to set a light color that is more pleasant for the pigs. For a rest phase after waking up, the red light component is reduced to zero and the green light component is maintained so that the pure animal light lighting mode is achieved from 5:00 a.m. The animal light lighting mode is maintained for the animals' daytime activity. The intensity is continuously increased to 100% starting at 7:00 a.m. within 60 minutes to 90 minutes. From 2:00 p.m., the intensity is initially reduced to a level of half intensity within 90 minutes. In the evening, red light is switched on continuously from 7:00 p.m., and the green light portion is reduced from 7:30 p.m. so that the general lighting mode is available from then on at the latest. By reducing the intensity of the red light component in the lighting direction to zero by 9:00 p.m., the mode is ended and the animals are prepared for bedtime.

In 4 Another exemplary intensity curve of the red and green LED elements within a lighting device is shown over the course of the day, with different feeding times being taken into account here.

The start of the day is similar to the example in 3 , that is, in the morning from 3:00 a.m. the intensity of the red light is ramped up, which means that the animals are initially woken up by the bright and less pleasant red components. From 3:30 a.m. green light is switched on and its intensity increases linearly up to 50% in order to set a light color that is more pleasant for the pigs. For a rest phase after waking up, the red light component is reduced to zero and the green light component is maintained at 50% intensity, so that the pure animal light lighting mode is achieved from 5:00 a.m.

In principle, in this case too, the animal light lighting mode is maintained for the animals' daily activity, for which the intensity is continuously increased to 100% in the middle of the day and from 2:00 p.m. the green light is reduced to a level of half intensity.

This basic cycle is superimposed by three feeding cycles for feedings at 6:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. At each feeding time, the red light is switched on continuously, with the intensity increasing very quickly to 100% in just 30 minutes. At the same time, the proportion of green light is reduced to 25%, so that the general light lighting mode prevails and the activity of the animals is increased before and during feeding.

Feeding is ended by increasing the green light portion again and decreasing the red light portion. The red light portion will be reduced in two phases. Immediately after the peak, the intensity of the red light is initially reduced more slowly until the green light is correspondingly brighter, so that a basic brightness is maintained in this phase. Only then is the intensity of the red light quickly reduced to zero.

For afternoon feeding, identical green and red light sequences are provided. Midday feeding differs from morning and afternoon feeding in that a higher lighting intensity is maintained and the animal light lighting mode dominates

In the evening, the red light will be switched on continuously for the last time from 7:00 p.m. From 7:30 p.m. the green light component is reduced so that the general light lighting mode is available from then on. By reducing the intensity of the red light component in the lighting direction to zero by 9 p.m., the animals are prepared for the night's rest.

Claims (3)

Lighting system (10) for pig breeding, at least comprising: - a lighting device (12) with at least two separately controllable lighting modes, or at least two lighting devices each with a different lighting mode, the light in an animal light lighting mode having a light spectrum optimized for domestic pigs with an intensity maximum at a wavelength between 410 nm and 480 nm, and wherein the light in a general light lighting mode has a light spectrum with an intensity maximum at a wavelength between 510 nm and 610 nm and - a time control device for switching the lighting device (12) on and off daily and/or for switching between the lighting modes within the same lighting device or between the lighting devices with different lighting modes. Lighting system (10). Claim 1 , characterized by a manually operated lighting mode switch (13) for temporarily switching on or switching to the general lighting mode. Lighting system (10). Claim 2 , characterized by a second time control device for the time-controlled reset of the general lighting mode switched on via the manually operable lighting mode switch.

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