Cattle eyesight - LED vs bulb torches

[Azlett]

With some out-wintered cattle, we often find ourselves moving them into the next grazing block in the dark and I shine a torch onto the straw bale to get them moving towards it.

We've found using some new LED torches, the cattle don't seem to see the bale and just stop, whereas with a traditional bulb torch, they head straight to it.

I'm trying to decide if it's my imagination or not! I wonder if LED torches, whilst appearing similar white light, have some frequencies missing that the cattle can actually see.

Let me know if I'm mad.

Anne-Z

 

[Rod Dumbreck]

With some out-wintered cattle, we often find ourselves moving them into the next grazing block in the dark and I shine a torch onto the straw bale to get them moving towards it.

We've found using some new LED torches, the cattle don't seem to see the bale and just stop, whereas with a traditional bulb torch, they head straight to it.

I'm trying to decide if it's my imagination or not! I wonder if LED torches, whilst appearing similar white light, have some frequencies missing that the cattle can actually see.

Let me know if I'm mad.

Anne-Z

I have observed that with my incredibly bright head torch, I can walk through the poly tunnel with very little disturbance, shining where I like, but if using the old torch, the ewes get up and rattle around. Don't know if this helps, but I am also surprised how well animals see at night, took delivery of some ewes at midnight and they happily trotted down the track round several obstacles and into the pens in the pitch black. Dog also can see (is deaf) what Im signalling even when shining a light (led) in his eyes.

 

[milkloss]

Yes, I think they struggle too. You can get warm white leds which may be better…. I dislike the white/blue ones.

Very often shine the torch on myself so they can see who it is rather then go skittish.

 

[Azlett]

Yes, I think they struggle too. You can get warm white leds which may be better…. I dislike the white/blue ones.

Very often shine the torch on myself so they can see who it is rather then go skittish.

So there may be some truth in it... mine is a very white one, so maybe finding a warmer light would be better. Interesting to think about their vision though, isn't it.

I have observed that with my incredibly bright head torch, I can walk through the poly tunnel with very little disturbance, shining where I like, but if using the old torch, the ewes get up and rattle around. Don't know if this helps, but I am also surprised how well animals see at night, took delivery of some ewes at midnight and they happily trotted down the track round several obstacles and into the pens in the pitch black. Dog also can see (is deaf) what Im signalling even when shining a light (led) in his eyes.

I hadn't thought there would be a plus side to it - that's quite good that you can do a night check without disturbing them.

Am glad your dog defies your experiments to put him at a disadvantage!!

 

[GeorgeK]

Leds emit far less towards the infrared end of the spectrum than filament bulbs

 

[Azlett]

Leds emit far less towards the infrared end of the spectrum than filament bulbs

Thanks for that - very interesting...

 

[Muck Spreader]

With some out-wintered cattle, we often find ourselves moving them into the next grazing block in the dark and I shine a torch onto the straw bale to get them moving towards it.

We've found using some new LED torches, the cattle don't seem to see the bale and just stop, whereas with a traditional bulb torch, they head straight to it.

I'm trying to decide if it's my imagination or not! I wonder if LED torches, whilst appearing similar white light, have some frequencies missing that the cattle can actually see.

Let me know if I'm mad.

Anne-Z

Interesting observation. Quite a bit on the use of LED's with dairy cattle nearly all seems to be positive.

https://www.greenstarpower.ca/images/Study%20finds%20LED%20lights%20can%20increase%20milk%20production.pdf

 

[Azlett]

Interesting observation. Quite a bit on the use of LED's with dairy cattle nearly all seems to be positive.

https://www.greenstarpower.ca/images/Study%20finds%20LED%20lights%20can%20increase%20milk%20production.pdf

Another plus side... it would be interesting to see if using LED lighting in calf/lambing sheds would be beneficial.

 

[AndrewM]

Cattle are dichromatic and don't have much sensitivity to the red spectrum. So you would think the would see modern leds better?

 

[Azlett]

Cattle are dichromatic and don't have much sensitivity to the red spectrum. So you would think the would see modern leds better? View attachment 1008970

Am more confused now.

 

[Sandpit Farm]

This report may help