Abstract
The objective was to classify the dairy farms that use Compost bedded pack barn (CB) in the Brazilian subtropical region, in terms of farm structure, building aspects, environmental and compost bedded pack characteristics, and reports the variability among them. Additionally, this research identifies structural and management factors that interfere in the compost bedded pack quality. Farms (n = 30) were visited (January-March 2017), located on Subtropical region of Brazil, where CB measurements, managements and herd observations were performed. The cluster analysis was performed with the kmeans methodology to define the groups, and through iterations, the optimal number of groups was determined according to the Silhouette method. Descriptive statistics were used for the different groups of farms. The clustering analysis, based on 12 variables, resulted in the formation of three groups: “Conventional and adapted CB” (n=18, with new and adapted barns, of different sizes, full time using, with adequate pack characteristics or not), “Large conventional CB” (n = 6, larger barns, more similar to American models, full time using) and, “CB of partial use” (n = 6, used in hottest hours of the day or rainy season, with better pack characteristics among groups, although do not have fans ventilation and the bedded pack is stirring only once a day). The CB systems are heterogeneous, and the barns are characterized by their distinct sizes or period of utilization. The group “CB of partial use” presented better bedded pack characteristics even with less intensive bedding management, and without fan ventilation in the barns.
Highlights
The compost bedded pack barn (CB) is a confinement system for dairy cattle that aims to provide greater comfort, well-being and longevity in the productive life of the animals (Barberg et al, 2007), which was developed by dairy farms in the American state of Virginia in the 1980s and 1990s
The works of Janni et al (2007), Barberg et al (2007), Damasceno (2012) and Black et al (2013), described the main characteristics of the Compost bedded pack barn (CB) system in the United States, but did not elaborate a classification of dairy farm that use this system of production, and evaluate if there are any differences in management or system characteristics among dairy farms
This study showed that dairy farms that use CB systems in Brazilian subtropical regions are somewhat heterogeneous, due to the identification of three different groups, through cluster analysis
Summary
The compost bedded pack barn (CB) is a confinement system for dairy cattle that aims to provide greater comfort, well-being and longevity in the productive life of the animals (Barberg et al, 2007), which was developed by dairy farms in the American state of Virginia in the 1980s and 1990s. In CB the animals has free access to a bedded pack area composed of organic material, usually sawdust, which is revolved daily for incorporation of oxygen and the animal feces This process favors the development of aerobic microorganisms that perform the composting of the residues present in the medium, which causes the decrease of its humidity and results in a dry and comfortable place to the animals (Shane et al, 2010). According to Black et al (2013), the maintenance of the composting process depends on the C:N ratio, on the temperature, humidity, bedded pack stirring and pH of the bedding in equilibrium, to provide a dry bedding with low pathogenic microbial populations These factors can be directly affected by the constructive characteristics of the dairy farms, the bedded pack management, the resting space adopted and other characteristics not yet described or understood
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