In many livestock operations, lighting is treated as an infrastructure element rather than a production tool. In reality, the duration and intensity of light directly influence behavior, feed intake, and growth rates.

In the poultry sector, lighting programs are essential. An uncontrolled variation in daily light duration can reduce feed intake and affect growth by 5–10%. Insufficient light leads to reduced activity, while excessive light can generate stress and aggression.

In dairy farms, extending the light period to 16–18 hours per day is associated with production increases of 5–8%, by stimulating intake and metabolic activity. In the absence of a consistent program, these benefits do not materialize.

The signal is simple: less active animals, reduced intake during certain intervals, or uneven behavior within the housing environment. In many cases, the cause is not the feed, but the environment.

The correction does not require major investments, but control: a stable program, appropriate intensity, and uniform light distribution throughout the space.

(Photo: Freepik)