AgEnergy
Your resource site for information on energy conservation in agricultural enterprises.
Dairy
Long daylighting - When cows are exposed to long days, 16 to 18 hours, research has shown that they will give 4 to 5 pound more milk per day. Long days can be created by exposing the cows to artificial or a combination of natural and artificial light. In a tiestall barn this can be accomplished by installing a row of T-8 fluorescent fixtures over the feed alley. In a freestall barn, metal halide or high pressure sodium lamps are normally used unless the ceiling height is less than 10 feet, then high output T-8 fluorescent fixtures would likely be recommended. For more information, refer to the following links:
- Tip sheet: Healthy Farmers, Healthy Profits
- Summary of research work: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Dr. Geoff Dahl, http://www.traill.uiuc.edu/photoperiod/
- Long Daylighting decision tool, University of Wisconsin.
If you have information you think would be useful to this site please contact Scott Sanford, Senior Outreach Specialist, University of Wisconsin, sasanford@wisc.edu.