In comparison to artificial illumination, humans perform better in the sunshine. But animals experience the same thing. The impact of daylight on animal husbandry has been the subject of much investigation by agronomists. To illustrate our thesis, allow us to mention a few astounding findings:
When dairy cattle are exposed to sunshine, they produce more milk but are also less prone to illness. The better your economic outcomes, the more light there is.
Based on the cycles of the natural light, animals can identify seasons. Cattle may prematurely lose their winter coat while still exposed to the cold due to artificial illumination which might confuse their perception of the seasons.
Pigs and poultry may develop rickets (soft bones) due to a lack of sunlight or vitamin D, unless you artificially add the vitamin to their diet, which will increase your expenses.
Chicken are vulnerable to sunlight's UV radiation. When exposed to UV and sunshine, there is less feather plucking.
The daylight cycle has an impact on the mares' reproductive cycle in horse husbandry.
Cows prefer bright areas over dim ones. For their visual interactions and social hierarchy, good lighting is essential. This lessens the risk of trauma.
...and forth we go. It is evident that interaction with animals of the same species and daylight have an equal role in determining an animal's wellbeing. Therefore, it's crucial to let as much natural light into their stables as possible, particularly when they aren't going outside (e.g. in the winter season).
Never undervalue the positive effects of sunshine on your personal health
The importance of working throughout the day is not only for farmers. According to research, those who operate under artificial light nonstop have greater blood levels of stress hormones than those who are exposed to natural sunshine. Furthermore, we may assume that managing a farm already results in a sufficient amount of (constructive) stress, so you don't want to add any more.
Light inspires individuals. It increases productivity and work happiness, according to experiments. Workers who work in environments with natural light experience** less absenteeism** due to sick leave than those who must use artificial lighting. If you deal with staff on your farm, it's a good idea to be aware of this.
Continuous darkness may result in health issues including depression, sleep disturbances, and issues with focus and efficiency. So make sure that you and your team routinely engage in daylight activities.
Inventive ways to allow light into your stables and sheds
We've already mentioned how crucial daylight is. However, too much sunlight may have a greenhouse effect and significantly increase the temperature inside your stables.
Eternit created E-luminate undulated roofing panels as a result. They have the same advantages as standard fibre-cement profiled sheets, but they allow light to enter. They do have a special coating that reflects the light, however. This successfully keeps the heat out while letting the light in. You may choose to make elongated skylights across the whole building or distribute the daylight panels throughout your roof surface since the E-luminate panels are completely compatible with the Eternit roofing panels and equally simple to install.
You won't need as much artificial lighting if you allow more natural light in. Both the environment and your electrical cost will benefit from this.
