System and method of illuminating livestock
A control system for illuminating swine having one or more controllers configured to increase voltage supplied to a first plurality of lights to a first threshold voltage to illuminate the first plurality of lights to provide a first light having a first color characteristic that affects swine. The one or more controllers are also configured to increase the voltage supplied to a second plurality of lights to a second threshold voltage to illuminate the second plurality of lights to provide a second light with a second color characteristic different than the first color characteristic. The one or more controllers are also configured to increase the voltage supplied to a third plurality of lights to a third threshold voltage to illuminate the third plurality of lights to provide third light with a third color characteristic that stimulates the swine to have a predetermined behavior.
1. A method of stimulating a biological response in a swine, the method comprising:
supplying a first light from a lighting source, the first light having a first color characteristic, on a swine for a first predetermined time; and
changing the first light to a second light having a second color characteristic that promotes a predetermined biological response in the swine for a second predetermined period;
wherein the second predetermined period is less than the first predetermined period.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the second predetermined period is less than one hour.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second light is substantially concentrated within a specified range of wavelength between 400 nm and 495 nm.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, supplying a third light from a third lighting source with a third color characteristic that stimulates the swine to have a predetermined behavior.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the third light is substantially concentrated within a specified range of wavelength between 370 nm and 400 nm.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second light is an ultraviolet (UV) light.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the wavelength of the second light is less than 400 nm.
8. A method of stimulating a biological response in a swine comprising:
supplying a first light from a first source, the first light having a first color characteristic;
supplying a second light from a second source, the second light having a second color characteristic different from the first color characteristic; and
supplying a third light from a third source, the third light having a third color characteristic different from both the first and second color characteristics;
wherein the third light includes a color characteristic that promotes a predetermined biological response in the swine; and
wherein the first light and the second light are on when the third light is off.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first light is red.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second light is white.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the third light is ultraviolet (UV).
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first light is off when the second light and the third light are on.