Article from Questline
Is LED lighting a good fit for dairy operations?
LEDs are highly efficient, saving you energy dollars. They also offer additional benefits for dairy operations.
Long life. LED lamps have been rated from 50,000 or more for many applications, compared to 16,000 to 24,000 hours for HID or fluorescent lamps. This is a real plus in barns and outdoor areas where maintenance and replacement can be a challenge.
Durability. Made from solid materials, LEDs are resistant to damage from shock or vibration, which can sometimes be a problem in rugged agricultural environments.
Research has also suggested that LED lighting may have a positive impact on milk production. An Oklahoma State University study showed a 6% increase in milk production when switching from linear fluorescent to LED lighting. A Michigan State University study showed how long-day lighting in a dairy with closely-controlled intensity from LED sources boosted milk production by 8%.
The principles of long-day lighting (LDL) involve exposing cows to longer daily light periods of 16 to 18 hours, followed by 6 to 8 hours of lower light levels. Conventional light sources have created challenges to fully realizing the benefits of LDL. However, the research team used LED lighting with advanced controls to accurately create an LDL environment.
In addition to increased milk production, the LED lighting system delivered significant energy savings. Previously, the barn had used metal halide lights. The LED lights reduced energy costs by half.