Assessment of Preference Behavior of Layer Hens under Different Light Colors and Temperature Environments in Long-Time Footage Using a Computer Vision System
, Henry Ponti Medeiros 3, Daniella Jorge De Moura 1,* and Danilo Florentino Pereira 1,4
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The authors presented a paper showing that laying hens have some behavioral preferences in relation to light color but not to heat stress. The manuscript is nicely done and written. The study design is appropriate and apparently, the analyses were carefully performed. I believe that the results are valuable for the scientific community.
However, the article can be improved by addressing the following comments and suggestions:
Line 99 – please present the aim of the study (or hypothesis) correctly.
Line 74 – The limitation of the study is the number of animals used. I strongly suggest to add “pilot study” in the title.
Line 121 – could authors present the color temperature of LED light source in kelvins?
Line 134 – please delete the price of the hardware. It is irrelevant form scientific point of view
Line 250 – one-way ANOVA or two-way ANOVA was used?
Line 361 – the authors should add a chapter describing any limitations of their study
Line 407 – All references have to be once again checked. Please follow Journal citations guidelines.
Author Response
In Attached
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
1. Line 144: The total hours of videos are: 4 hours/day ´ 27 days ´ 3 compartments = 324 hours?
2. How many birds were used in the experiments? And how about the temperature and lights in these compartments during the adaptation period before the start of the experiments？
Author Response
In Attached
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Manuscript animals-2512340, entitled “Assessment of Preference Behavior of Layer Hens under Different Light Colors and Temperature Environments in Long-Time Footage Using a Computer Vision System”
This article provides useful information on the assessment of preference behavior of layer hens under different light colors and temperature environments in long-time footage using a computer vision system. It is in general appropriately designed and implemented, however there are some points that should be corrected or clarified.
In general, red color results in lower frequency of feather pecking and aggressiveness. Please check, i.e. https://layinghens.hendrix-genetics.com/en/articles/insight-light/; Animals 2019, 9 (10), 814; Poultry Science 2013, 92 (4), 869-873; Poultry Science 2019, 98, 3-8. I think that you should clarify the effect of light color in poultry and especially in laying hens, because it is an important parameter of your study
L17: “completely” instead of “all”
L18: “with” instead of “for”
L23: “As for all birds, the behavior…”
L28: Please delete “for humans”
L32: “…different illuminations equipped with video cameras to monitor…”
L47: Please complete the sentence
L86: “…accuracy of 99.7%. The aforementioned studies, as well as the…”
L90: “…with low illumination levels. Red hues…”
L130: “…days of experimentation.”
L174, 202, 227: “calculated as:” instead of “given by”
L185: “selected”
L186: “consisted of”
L266: “…predictions reflect this with an accuracy…”
L279: “calculated” instead of “computed”
L289: “observed” instead of “seen”
L294: “staying” instead of “stay”
Table 2: The use of uppercase letters is incorrect
L327: “recorded”
L333: “…hard-to-reach areas. One more…”
L346: “…birds have four cones in their vision system and are sensitive to the light…”
L354-355: “…followed by red, while green was the least preferred by broilers.”
L357: Where are the data for the Unrest Index presented?
L359-360: “…obtained by Sultana et al. [49], Hesham et al. [50], and Khaliq et al. [51].” However, please check my main comment and correct accordingly.
L382: Please delete “clearly”
L384-385: “Hence, integrated management strategies for commercial layer chicken operations should be applied. We demonstrated…”
Minor editing of English language required
Author Response
In Attached
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
this current form looks good.
