A new company based out of Minnesota is manufacturing LED bulbs specially designed for use in farms. They claim to help animals grow big and strong, but do they really work?
You already know that different types of light can affect your mood in different ways—just take the sun, for instance. My mood is instantly brightened when I walk outside on a beautiful, sunny day versus a gloomy, cloudy one. And indoors, daylight bulbs help keep you awake and alert, while warm-toned bulbs can help you relax. Would you believe that same concept applies to our furry and feathered friends as well?
A recent MPR article detailed how special LED bulbs installed in a turkey farmer’s barn have helped his turkeys stay calmer, grow bigger, and stay healthier and happier. The farmer, Michael Christensen, says he turns on the bulbs when there isn’t enough natural daylight to illuminate his barns. The bulbs, manufactured by the Minnesota company Once, are specially designed to appear natural to farm animals.
The bulbs give off a dull white glow—but since turkeys see light differently than humans do, it appears as more of a red tone, which proves calming to the large birds. Calmer animals means larger, healthier animals, as well as lessening the chances of fights and injuries due to stressed out animals. Besides helping his birds stay happy and healthy, the bulbs also prove much more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs, slashing the farm’s electric bill and lasting longer than previous light bulbs.
The manufacturer of the special LED bulbs says they came about by researching how animals see light, and using that information to create a bulb that mimics that light source as accurately as possible. The bulb can even be adjusted to impersonate sunrises, sunsets, and even different seasons. According to the company’s CEO, their lights can even be used to manipulate the genders of incubating embryos!
With new research to consider, it’s becoming more and more evident how much light can affect a farm’s bottom line. And with new ways to ensure animals are the happiest and healthiest they’ve ever been in a farm setting, the possibilities for growth in the animal lighting industry are expanding rapidly.
