Illumination

Profit from more light

Maintaining and increasing your herd’s milk production by introducing higher light levels in your barn can be a profitable business through the darker autumn and winter months.

If you can deliver more milk when there is normally a seasonal shortage, you will reap the benefit from the higher milk prices paid during these low seasons. Of course to get full benefit from increasing light levels, all aspects of cow comfort have to be maintained at optimum levels too.

Brighten up and lighten up to improve appetite, increase activity, increase production!

How does it work? - The pineal gland is controlled by the amount of light hitting the eyes each day: by the intensity and the duration of this light period. - Increased light exposure reduces the amount of melatonin synthesis. Reducing melatonin by increasing light intensity to an average of 180 lux, increases cow activity and stimulates the liver to increase the production of IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor-1). - More IGF-1 boosts milk production.

Other benefits of increased light levels - More light encourages faster growth of your young stock. - Fertility cycles are stimulated by daylight. Active cows stimulated by light are likely to show heat faster. - Better lighting improves the work environment, improving labour productivity and motivation.