** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** INDIANA IS THE LARGEST DUCK PRODUCING STATE IN THE USA AND OUR COUNTRY IS THE THIRD LARGEST DUCK PRODUCER IN THE WORLD. POOR WELFARE AND INCREASED UNWANTED BEHAVIORS CAN COST THE DUCK INDUSTRY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EACH YEAR DUE TO LOSS OF PRODUCTIVITY. SEVERAL STUDIES FROM THE PI AND OTHER LABS HAVE SHOWN THAT LIGHTING CAN PROFOUNDLY IMPACT DUCK FERTILITY, BEHAVIOR AND WELFARE. NO ONE HAS EVER INVESTIGATED OPTIMAL LIGHTING SYSTEMS BY BETTER UNDERSTANDING LIGHTING FROM THE DUCK'S POINT OF VIEW, WHICH IS CRITICAL GIVEN THAT BIRDS SEE THEIR WORLDS DIFFERENTLY FROM HUMANS. FOR DECADES IT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED THAT DIETS NEED TO BE ADJUSTED AT DIFFERENT LIFE STAGES FOR OUR POULTRY IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE PRODUCTION AND HEALTH. THERE IS AMPLE EVIDENCE IN WILD BIRDS THAT TAILORED LIGHTING BY AGE MAY BE NECESSARY IN REGARDS TO VISUAL PERCEPTION. OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO IMPROVE DUCK REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE AND WELFARE IN COMMERCIAL BARNS. OUR PROJECT OBJECTIVES ARE TO 1) MEASURE DIFFERENT VISUAL PHYSIOLOGY TRAITS AT DIFFERENT LIFE STAGES IN ORDER TO 2) ESTABLISH HOW DUCKS PERCEIVE ITEMS AND CONSPECIFICS IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT USING WIDELY ESTABLISHED MATHEMATICAL MODELS, 3) DEVELOP OPTIMAL LED LIGHTS (BASED ON WAVELENGTH AND INTENSITY) THAT WILL MAXIMIZE THE DUCKS' VISUAL PERCEPTION OF THEIR ENVIRONMENT SO THEY CAN ADEQUATELY UTILIZE RESOURCES, AND 4) TEST THESE OPTIMAL LIGHTING SYSTEMS IN ACADEMIC AND COMMERCIAL BARN SETTINGS. WE WILL COMBINE PHYSIOLOGICAL, BEHAVIORAL, PRODUCTION AND WELFARE DATA TO DEVELOP A MORE HOLISTIC FRAMEWORK TO INFORM DUCK PRODUCTION AND WELFARE. OUR OBSERVATIONS COMBINED WITH INPUT FROM OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS WILL ALLOW US TO MAKE SUGGESTIONS FOR NEW LIGHTING SYSTEMS TO MAXIMIZE FERTILITY, TO MINIMIZE UNWANTED BEHAVIORS AND TO TAILOR LIGHTING SYSTEMS TO THE DUCKS' NEEDS AT DIFFERENT LIGHT STAGES. ?