Effect of bedding systems and thermal analysis on milk yield of crossbred dairy cows

Abstract

The current research was carried out to assess the effect of various bedding material on thermal image analysis and yield of milk in dairy cows. Twenty four crossbred cows at the Cattle farm of the Instructional Livestock Farm Complex, Pookode, Wayanad District in Kerala state formed the group in the present research for one lactation period including three seasons viz., summer (February to May), monsoon (June to September) and post monsoon (October to January). T1 was the control group in which the cows were maintained on concrete floor with no bedding material. Rubber mats (T2 ) and coir pith (T3 ) were provided on concrete floor. In T4 Dried solid manure (DSM) on concrete floor was provided at the rate of 7.5 cm thickness as bedding. Thermal image analysis of the heat generated from the animal body, surface of the floor and roof was recorded. The cows maintained on concrete floors (37.79 ± 0.21 oC) and rubber mats (37.56 ± 0.28 oC) generated significantly higher (P<0.05) amounts of heat followed by those kept on DSM (28.49 ± 0.28 oC) and coir pith (25.46 ± 0.26o C). The floor and roof temperatures were higher during summer and post monsoon and lower in the monsoon season. Daily milk yields from the experimental animals were recorded and analysed. The cows maintained on concrete floor had the lowest overall daily milk yield (8.95 ± 0.22) while the cows on coir pith bedding had the highest yield (9.98 ± 0.30). The cows on DSM and rubber mats had an overall mean milk yield of 9.48 ± 0.22 and 9.26 ± 0.20 kg, respectively. Coir pith and dried solid manure as bedding material could be recommended for use by dairy farmers when compared to rubber mats and concrete floor bedding for improving cow comfort and milk production.