FULL SPECTRUM LIGHTS AND LIVESTOCK

Many of our animals have been limited to indoor environments rather than outdoors. We know that many of these animals have developed serious malnutrition, as well as reproductive problems. 

One of the tests that have been completed over the years was done on children for a six-month study. Where they received proper lighting, visual difficulties were reduced 65%, nutritional problems reduced 47.8%, chronic infections reduced 43.3%, postural problems reduced 25.6% and chronic fatigue reduced 55.6%. In addition to these apparent improvements, some comparable results were also seen in academic achievements. 

It is important to understand that lighting has a tremendous effect on animals as well as people.

Numerous recent studies point to a direct relationship between the length of exposure to full spectrum light and the breeding cycle of horses, dairy cattle, and hogs.  These studies further indicate that the overall health and appearance of livestock is related to exposure to full spectrum light.

One example showed that mice living under pink fluorescent or daylight white fluorescent lived an average of 7.5 and 8.2 months respectively. Those that lived under natural unfiltered daylight were much healthier and lived for 16.1 months. Based on the results of these and other studies, we can certainly understand the effect of full spectrum lighting for animals and people. When we look at the pure standard cool white fluorescent fixtures, we know that it actually makes children hyper, as well as animals. A test was completed on golden hamsters for a period of 15 weeks under cool white fluorescent lighting and they were fed a cavity producing diet. They developed five times as many cavities as hamsters raised in the same period of time with an identical diet but under full spectrum fluorescent lighting. The severity of the decay was 10 times greater under the cool white lights than under the full spectrum.

Therefore, we can see that if we can put light bulbs into barns, we can get a healthier animal and this will greatly help our nutrition program. I think that we need to understand that light is probably one of the greatest things that we can do to help our animals, especially throughout the winter months, as well as ourselves.

Where to Find Help:

Michael A. Horigan, M.S., Lighting and Energy Consultant

101 E. State St., Suite 108, Ithaca, New York 14850

Phone: 607-277-5089; Toll-free:  1-800-257-8353, extension 267