Light is an affordable yet impactful way to enhance dairy cow health and performance. Maintaining 16-18 hours of light at 200 lux, followed by 6-8 hours of dim light at 50 lux, helps simulate a natural day-night cycle. This lighting setup boosts cow activity, feed intake, and signs of heat, allowing producers to more easily monitor cows for health and fertility. However, continuous lighting (24/7) can disrupt these cycles and negatively impact fertility.
A structured lighting program with a timer and sensor is ideal for maintaining optimal light levels while keeping energy costs in check. Key areas, including milking parlors and feeding zones, should be well-lit to promote cow comfort and cleanliness. For dry cows, more darkness is beneficial, mimicking winter days to optimize the “light-shower” effect after calving. White light is recommended in calving areas to improve visibility of health indicators.
Proper light placement throughout the barn, especially near feed, drink stations, and parlors, supports cow movement and reduces stress. Using sufficient light sources, like fluorescent tubes or sodium lights, efficiently achieves the recommended lux levels.
