Abstract
We evaluated the effects of a compost bedded-pack barn as an alternative housing system for dairy cattle in Italy. Twenty-two Fleckvieh dairy cows were randomly allocated to two housing systems: (1) a conventional freestall barn (FB) and (2) a compost bedded-pack barn (CB). Clinical data and behavioural measurements were collected. Milk quality parameters and cheese characteristics were also evaluated. Scores for hind limb cleanliness and locomotion were better in the CB-housed than in the FB-housed cows (p < .01). The incidence of standing was higher (p < .01), while that of lying in head-up position and the expression of agonistic interaction were lower (p < .001) in the CB-housed animals. An avoidance distance of 50 cm was more frequent, whereas a distance of more than 100 cm was less frequent among the CB-housed animals (p < .001). Milk fat content was greater and somatic cell count was lower, as were total bacterial count (TBC) and coliforms in cheese made from milk from the CB-housed cows (p < .05). Descriptive comparisons between CB and FB bedding materials revealed promising results for salinity, fulvic + humic acid content, ammonia concentration, and TBC, but also issues related to bacterial levels, temperature, and nutrient composition of CB bedding material. Our results suggest that cow health and welfare, as well as milk and milk product quality, may benefit from CB housing, supporting its potential as a promising alternative loose-housing system for dairy cattle in Italy.HighlightsHousing systems and management practices exert a remarkable influence on dairy cattle welfare, making the choice of environment extremely important.Cow health and welfare, as well as milk and milk product quality, may benefit from compost bedded-pack housing system.Issues related to bacterial levels, temperature, and nutrient composition of bedding material may be encountered in compost bedded-pack housing system.
Highlights
Public concern about farm animal welfare continues to focus on animal functioning, feeling, and ability to live a relatively natural life and express natural behaviours
Based on the above reported background, the aims of the present study were to (1) develop and describe a compost bedded-pack barn as a housing system for dairy cattle, (2) assess and compare the health and welfare of cows housed in this alternative system versus those kept in a conventional one, and (3) characterise the quality of the milk and three local, traditional products of the North-West Italy: Bra, Raschera and Toma cheeses
After an acclimation period of 40 days in a separate stall, the animals were randomly allotted to two housing systems: 11 were housed in a conventional freestall barn (FB) with a concrete floor in which space allowance was m2/head and were housed in a compost bedded-pack barn (CB) in which space allowance was at least 25 m2/head
Summary
Public concern about farm animal welfare continues to focus on animal functioning, feeling, and ability to live a relatively natural life and express natural behaviours This last aspect has been extensively investigated in recent years, leading to mounting evidence that animals experience pain or distress from widely accepted management practices that subject them to being kept under apparently ‘unnatural’ conditions (Fraser 2008). Cheese characteristics – especially when local, traditional products are concerned – may vary on varying the animal rearing system (Romanzin et al 2013) In this regard, the compost bedded-pack barn constitutes an alternative loosehousing system that was developed in Virginia (USA) to improve cow comfort, increase animal longevity, and reduce initial barn costs, while potentially reducing the risk of mastitis associated with conventional bedded packs (Wagner 2002). Different from conventional bedded-pack barns, the bedding material (predominantly dry, fine wood shavings or sawdust) is aerated twice daily with cultivator-type equipment to dry the surface and incorporate manure into the pack (Barberg et al 2007a)
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