Abstract
Simple SummaryCompost-bedded pack barns (CBP) reflect a novel dairy cattle housing system with favourable effects on animal health and animal behavior but can promote the growth of thermophilic aerobic sporeformers (TAS) in the composting lying surface. In our study, we determined a medium–high mean TAS concentration across all bedding samples of four different CBP groups. Six different TAS species were identified based on their 16S rRNA-gene sequence, with Bacillus licheniformis being the predominant species. Season, the moisture content of the bedding material and the relative humidity above the bedding material had significant influences on the amount of TAS in the bedding material of the CBP. In addition, the moisture content and the relative humidity above the bedding material significantly influenced the concentration of TAS species each. Other characteristics such as the bedding temperature, the bedded area/cow and the usage time of the bedding material had slight effects on the TAS species occurrence. Due to the negative effect of TAS on milk product quality, considering all identified farm characteristics to optimise TAS contents will contribute to sustainable CBP farming.Compost-bedded pack barns (CBP) are of increasing interest in dairy farming due to their positive effect on animal welfare. The temperature and the moisture content of the bedding material characterising the composting process can promote the growth of thermophilic aerobic sporeformers (TAS). Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine CBP bedding material characteristics, such as moisture content and temperature, and to determine TAS species. The dilution, the heat inactivation of all non-TAS species and the incubation of 13 bedding samples from four CBP groups resulted in a mean TAS amount over all samples of 4.11 log10 cfu/g bedding material. Based on the subsequent sequencing of parts of the 16S rRNA-gene of 99 TAS colonies, the TAS species Aneurinibacillus thermoaerophilus, Bacillus licheniformis, Geobacillus thermodenitrificans, Laceyella sacchari, Thermoactinomyces vulgaris and Ureibacillus thermosphaericus were identified. The moisture content of the bedding material, the relative humidity above the bedding material and the sampling season significantly affected the amount of TAS. The moisture content or relative humidity above the bedding material significantly influenced the concentration of Ureibacillus thermophaericus or Laceyella sacchari. Consequently, an optimal CBP management including a dry lying surface and an optimal composting process will contribute to a moderate microbial, especially TAS amount, and TAS species distribution.
Highlights
During the past decade, compost-bedded pack barns (CBP) received increasing attention as a housing system for dairy cows due to its potential to improve animal welfare [1,2].A CBP consists of a large, open resting area, where cows have access to a minimum of7.40 m2 /cow and an ideal of 9.00–10.00 m2 /cow open bedded pack area, usually bedded with sawdust, dry fine wood shavings, spelt husks or miscanthus grass [1,3,4]
The observed bedding temperatures (17.93 to 56.57 ◦ C) in combination with moisture content agreed with those summarised by Leso et al [2]
We showed that the recorded bedding material characteristics such as moisture content and temperature as well as the barn management characteristics such as relative humidity significantly affected the amount of thermophilic aerobic sporeformers (TAS) and the TAS species concentrations
Summary
Compost-bedded pack barns (CBP) received increasing attention as a housing system for dairy cows due to its potential to improve animal welfare [1,2].A CBP consists of a large, open resting area, where cows have access to a minimum of7.40 m2 /cow and an ideal of 9.00–10.00 m2 /cow open bedded pack area, usually bedded with sawdust, dry fine wood shavings, spelt husks or miscanthus grass [1,3,4]. Compost-bedded pack barns (CBP) received increasing attention as a housing system for dairy cows due to its potential to improve animal welfare [1,2]. A CBP consists of a large, open resting area, where cows have access to a minimum of. Open resting areas without boxes and partitions as installed in classical cubicle and tie-stall housings [5] are generally separated from a concrete feed alley by a retaining wall. Improved comfort during resting, better foot and leg health, more natural animal behavior, and improved manure quality have been described in comparison to in tie-stall barns or cubicle housings [2,7]. It is expected that housings in bedded pack barns will contribute to increased longevity [13]
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