Dutch Dairy Farm Goes Greener with LEDs

The Donker Dairy Farm in Spanga, Friesland in north Holland is home to 170 cows producing more than 380,000 gallons of milk per year for commercial distribution in the Netherlands. Thanks to the recent installation of specially designed waterbed mats and energy-efficient LED lighting, the family-owned farm has dramatically reduced operational expenses and improved milk production.

When it came time to build a new dairy barn last year, the Donkers looked to specialist dairy supplier Animat Netherlands to help them create a state-of-the-art environment for their herd. Company representative Jacob Hoekstra began by installing specially made bovine waterbeds for the cows to lay/stand on in their new 20,500-square-foot facility. While the idea of milk cows lounging around on a cushy waterbed may sound amusing at first, Hoekstra maintains that the beds yield a legitimate benefit: The cows are healthier and less prone to an infection of the udder called mastitis that can negatively impact milk production. Looking for a sustainable lighting solution that would match the new facility’s modern infrastructure, Hoekstra also recommended using high-efficiency LED High Bay lighting fixtures from Dialight.