The health and hygiene of the cow, the environment where the cow is housed, and the cleaning and sanitizing procedures (5) are some of the predisposing factors for udder infections and mastitis. In particular environment and different housing management may be associated with a variety of risk factors (4), i.e. high stoking density, dirty bedding, high humidity and thermal stress. Used bedding has been shown to harbour large numbers of micro-organisms (1), (2), (6). These micro-organisms include streptococci, staphylococci, spore formers, coliforms and other Gram negative bacteria (4) that may influence the contamination of the teats, the udders and the milk. Various attempts have been made to control the microbial population of bedding (3) to improve welfare and health of the cows. The aim of the present field study was to investigate: 1) the efficacy of a bio-hygienizating additive as an agent for the microbial dairy bedding control, and 2) the possible role of this product to get down the somatic cell counts in milk. The results show: 1) a significant reduction both of the bacterial counts (P<0.05) and the SCC (P<0.001) values recorded during the treatment; 2) a correlation up to 0.80 between the bacterial counts and the SCC values.The significant reduction of the bacteria evaluated in the treated bedding if confirmed by further studies could represent an important key management practise to: 1) control some pathogen bacteria in field; 2) improve the hygiene of the cow house; 3) improve both the cow welfare and health and also the food animal quality.
EFFICACY OF A BIO-HYGIENIZATING ADDITIVE ON MICROBIALDAIRY BEDDING CONTROL
TACCONI, Giuseppina;
2007
Abstract
The health and hygiene of the cow, the environment where the cow is housed, and the cleaning and sanitizing procedures (5) are some of the predisposing factors for udder infections and mastitis. In particular environment and different housing management may be associated with a variety of risk factors (4), i.e. high stoking density, dirty bedding, high humidity and thermal stress. Used bedding has been shown to harbour large numbers of micro-organisms (1), (2), (6). These micro-organisms include streptococci, staphylococci, spore formers, coliforms and other Gram negative bacteria (4) that may influence the contamination of the teats, the udders and the milk. Various attempts have been made to control the microbial population of bedding (3) to improve welfare and health of the cows. The aim of the present field study was to investigate: 1) the efficacy of a bio-hygienizating additive as an agent for the microbial dairy bedding control, and 2) the possible role of this product to get down the somatic cell counts in milk. The results show: 1) a significant reduction both of the bacterial counts (P<0.05) and the SCC (P<0.001) values recorded during the treatment; 2) a correlation up to 0.80 between the bacterial counts and the SCC values.The significant reduction of the bacteria evaluated in the treated bedding if confirmed by further studies could represent an important key management practise to: 1) control some pathogen bacteria in field; 2) improve the hygiene of the cow house; 3) improve both the cow welfare and health and also the food animal quality.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
