28/10/26
Shed lighting could help dairy farmers protect yields this winter
Dairy farmers are being encouraged to review shed lighting as shorter daylight hours and pressure on milk production put greater emphasis on maintaining winter yields. The advice comes as GB milk deliveries fell 2.5% year-on-year in September, according to AHDB, while farmgate milk prices remain below the previous year’s levels. Dr Torjus Baalack, director of DairyLight, says sheds that rely heavily on natural daylight may not provide sufficient light during winter to support cows’ full production potential. Research has shown that cows receiving 16 hours of light followed by eight hours of darkness can produce up to 2kg more milk per cow per day than those exposed to natural daylight hours¹. Dr Baalack says: “Nutrition, housing and ventilation are all important considerations, but lighting also has an important role to play in supporting milk production. He explains that light helps regulate hormones associated with milk production, including melatonin, which controls the natural day-night cycle. “Simply leaving the light on for longer isn’t the answer,” says Dr Baalack. “Cows need a consistent routine, with 16 to 18 hours of adequate continuous light followed by six to eight hours of darkness to maintain their natural biological rhythms.”
He recommends farmers check existing lighting timers and assess whether light is evenly distributed throughout the shed, with an intensity of 150 to 200 lux. “Automated lighting controls can adjust to changing daylight hours, reducing the need for farmers to make manual adjustments,” he says. An Alltech E-CO2 assessment of a DairyLight installation recorded a 9% increase in milk yield, with no other management factors altered during the assessment period2. Dr Baalack says the cow-specific LED lighting systems are designed to provide blue-enriched white light during the day, with low-intensity red light for night-time observation. “With milk production under pressure, reviewing shed lighting is a practical step farmers can take to support cow comfort and help protect yields through the darker months,” he says. -ends-
References
1 Sandercock, J. and Bond, M. (2021). Dairy Lighting Technology Review. NFU Energy, prepared for AHDB Dairy. Available at: Read report
2Alltech E-CO₂ (2016). Results for Court Farm. Pre- and post-installation assessment, January–February 2016. Available at: dairylight.co.uk/-4_percent.pdf
Bella Lucas
Source: press release issued by Bella.