Plymouth Company’s Mood Lighting Boosts Farmers’ Bottom Lines

PLYMOUTH (AP) - Some poultry and livestock owners are seeing the benefits of agricultural lighting made by a company located just outside Minneapolis.

Plymouth-based firm Once creates LED light bulbs that generate light that seems natural to chickens, turkeys, pigs and other livestock. The company claims the bulbs make the animals happier, healthier and bigger.

Michael Christensen of Flying C Farms near Sleepy Eye says his male turkeys have been better behaved since he installed the bulbs about five years ago. He says the bulbs have allowed the turkeys to put on more weight because they're calmer and have saved him money on his electric bill.

Once has sold its bulbs to about 800 customers, including the poultry giant, Perdue.