Effects of achromatic and chromatic lights on pupillary response, endocrinology, activity, and milk production in dairy cows

Artificial light can be used as a management tool to increase milk yield in dairy production. However, little is known about how cows respond to the spectral composition of light. The aim of this study was to investigate how dairy cows respond to artificial achromatic and chromatic lights. A tie-sta...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2021-07, Vol.16 (7), p.e0253776-e0253776
Main Authors: Lindkvist, Sofia, Ternman, Emma, Ferneborg, Sabine, Bånkestad, Daniel, Lindqvist, Johan, Ekesten, Björn, Agenäs, Sigrid
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural production
Animal and Dairy Science
Animal lactation
Animal sciences
Biology and Life Sciences
Circadian rhythms
Composition
Cones
Cow's milk
Dairy cattle
Daylight
Ecology and Environmental Sciences
Endocrinology
Environmental aspects
Evaluation
Experiments
Fixtures
Horticulture
Husdjursvetenskap
Light emitting diodes
Long term effects
Luminous intensity
Medical research
Medicine and Health Sciences
Melatonin
Milk
Milk production
Night
Nutrition
Optical properties
Photoreceptors
Physical Sciences
Pupil size
Retina
Spectral composition
Veterinary medicine
Wavelengths
White light
Yield
Zoology
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Artificial light can be used as a management tool to increase milk yield in dairy production. However, little is known about how cows respond to the spectral composition of light. The aim of this study was to investigate how dairy cows respond to artificial achromatic and chromatic lights. A tie-stall barn equipped with light-emitting diode (LED) light fixtures was used to create the controlled experimental light environments. Two experiments were conducted, both using dairy cows of Swedish Red and light mixtures with red, blue or white light. In experiment I, the response to light of increasing intensity on pupil size was evaluated in five pregnant non-lactating cows. In experiment II 16h of achromatic and chromatic daylight in combination with dim, achromatic night light, was tested on pregnant lactating cows during five weeks to observe long term effects on milk production, activity and circadian rhythms. Particular focus was given to possible carry over effects of blue light during the day on activity at night since this has been demonstrated in humans. Increasing intensity of white and blue light affected pupil size (P
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0253776