if you are trying to GROW hair, then yes, the dark is an absolute must!!! They also must be kept under fans and cool!!! Cattle grow hair for one reason and one reason only. To protect them from the elements and keep them warm during the winter. What triggers them to grow hair?Shortening days and cooling temperatures signal the body that winter is approaching, with the longer periods of dark and cooler temps the body releases more melatonin which stimulates the body to grow a longer, thicker hair coat and put fat cover on to keep itself warm. when the temps get higher and days get longer the body sheds hair and fat in an effort to keep itself cool. So if you are trying to grow hair or finish a steer, keeping them cold and in the dark will help immensely. Also you have to remember that you should do everything to keep a calf cool, but it has to be below their ambient temperature before you will actually see significant hair coat. Do you put a coat on when your comfortable or when you get cold??? Their body does it naturally so we have to get them cooler than their ambient temperature to see significant hair growth, and a cows ambient temperature is generally in the 60's. So it can be quiet a job if you dont have a cool room...good news however, once you get hair you can generally maintain that hair and keep them from shedding it just by keeping them comfortable.
