Tie-stall Housing Research Articles

Feed intake in housed dairy cows: validation of a three-dimensional camera−based feed intake measurement system

Measuring feed intake accurately is crucial to determine feed efficiency and for genetic selection. A system using three-dimensional (3D) cameras and deep learning algorithms can measure the volume of feed intake in dairy cows, but for now, the system has not been validated for feed intake expressed as weight of feed. The aim of this study was to validate the weight of feed intake predicted from the 3D cameras with the actual measured weight. It was hypothesised that diet−specific coefficients are necessary for predicting changes in weight, that the relationship between weight and volume is curvilinear throughout the day, and that manually pushing the feed affects this relationship. Twenty-four lactating Danish Holstein cows were used in a cross-over design with four dietary treatments, 2 × 2 factorial arranged with either grass-clover silage or maize silage as silage factor, and barley or dried beet pulp as concentrate factor. Cows were adapted to the diets for 11 d, and for 3 d to tie-stall housing before camera measurements. Six cameras were used for recording, each mounted over an individual feeding platform equipped with a weight scale. When building the predictive models, four cameras were used for training, and the remaining two for testing the prediction of the models. The most accurate predictions were found for the average feed intake over a period when using the starting density of the feed pile, which resulted in the lowest errors, 6% when expressed as RMSE and 5% expressed as mean absolute error. A model including curvilinear effects of feed volume and the impact of manual feed pushing was used on a dataset including daily time points. When cross-validating, the inclusion of a curvilinear effect and a feed push effect did not improve the accuracy of the model for neither the feed pile nor the feed removed by the cow between consecutive time points. In conclusion, measuring daily feed intake from this 3D camera system in the present experimental setup could be accomplished with an acceptable error (below 8%), but the system should be improved for individual meal intake measurements if these measures were to be implemented.

Bioaerosols in Eastern Canadian Dairy Barns Using Tie- and Free-Stall Housing

Highlights Building characteristics (ventilation and animal density) seem to have an important effect on air quality. Concentration in the air seems to be influenced by amounts in the bedding for certain air quality indicators. Dust concentrations were below OSHA threshold, while some barns exceeded DECOS threshold for endotoxins. This study gives new data into the biological components in the air of dairy barns (bacteria, molds, endotoxins, etc.) Free-stall or tie-stall housing may not be linked with poorer air quality. Abstract. Alternative farming methods make it possible to satisfy public demands for animal welfare while preserving production efficiency, with free housing in dairy farms being an example. The increased movement of cows may have a negative impact on air quality and the presence of etiological agents, increasing the prevalence of lung disease in workers. Free-stall farms, however, are more spacious and modern than tie-stall farms. This study characterizes air quality in free-stall and tie-stall farms (dust, total bacteria, Penicillium/Aspergillus, archaea, and endotoxins). It also focuses on detecting airborne etiological agents and indicators of fecal contamination, as well as assessing the effect of environmental factors on air quality. Five farms of each type (free housing and tie housing) using straw bedding material and equipped with mechanical ventilation were visited. Sampling visits were conducted in winter with no activity (e.g., bedding spreading) in buildings. Dust was evaluated using the DustTrakTM DRX Aerosol Monitor, and bioaerosols were sampled in triplicates for 10 minutes using the SASS®3100 Dry Air Sampler. Finally, soiled bedding was collected throughout the barn. No type of housing seems to be linked with poorer air quality, but some air quality indicators stood out in some outliers. The most recently designed free-housing buildings and the greater air volume may have played a role in the absence of detected differences. Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp., Clostridium perfringens, Aspergillus fumigatus, Staphylococcus aureus, Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula, Coxiella burnetii, and Klebsiella pneumoniae were detected in high concentrations in both types of buildings. Soiled bedding concentrations, ventilation rates, and animal density seemed to have a significance on air quality in dairy barns. Keywords: Air Quality, Bioaerosols, Housing, Occupational exposure.

The Housing System Contributes to Udder Health and Milk Composition

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the housing system and somatic cell count (SCC) on the composition and fatty acid profile of milk. A total of 419 milk samples were collected from one herd of 210 cows; 90 cows were kept in the tie-stall system, and 120 cows were kept in the free-stall system. The cows received the same fodder. Samples were collected four times, in winter. Udder health was evaluated based on SCC. The tie-stall system, mainly due to individual care, was superior to the free-stall system. Milk from cows kept in the tie-stall system had lower (p < 0.01) SCC by 72 ths mL−1 cells than milk from cows kept in the free-stall system. An increase in SCC was accompanied by decreases in daily milk yield and lactose concentration. Milk from cows housed in the tie-stall barn had higher polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) contents and a lower n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio. Milk with a higher SCC contained more PUFAs and fewer monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). Tie-stall housing contributed to an increase in the proportions of acids beneficial to the health of consumers. A comparison of two housing systems for cows on one farm showed that the free-stall system was associated with a higher SCC and a less favorable milk composition and fatty acid profile.

Outdoor access practices in the Canadian dairy industry

Dairy cows are highly motivated to access pasture and have a partial preference for alternative forms of outdoor access (e.g., deep-bedded outdoor sand or wood-chip packs). In addition, Canadians value the provision of outdoor access to dairy cows as they perceive it as important for good cow welfare. In contrast to Europe, Oceania, and the USA, little data exist on the use of outdoor access on Canadian dairy farms. Therefore, our objective was to assess current outdoor access practices for dairy cows in Canada. An online questionnaire was used to determine housing and outdoor access practices for lactating cows, dry cows, pregnant heifers, and weaned, nonpregnant heifers on Canadian dairy farms. The questionnaire was distributed by the 10 provincial milk boards between November 2020 and August 2021, resulting in an 8.9% response rate (n = 903 completed questionnaires). In total, 75% (n = 675) of respondents provided some form of outdoor access to at least 1 cattle class on their farm. Pasture was the most frequently used form of outdoor access for all cattle classes. A total of 28 and 44% of Canadian dairy farms provided lactating and dry cows, respectively, access to pasture whereas for youngstock, these numbers were 44 and 24% for pregnant heifers and weaned, nonpregnant heifers, respectively. Herd size (for each cow class), indoor housing system, and region were all associated with the provision of pasture. Farms with larger lactating herds less often provided access to pasture; larger herd sizes in terms of weaned, nonpregnant heifers, pregnant heifers, and dry cows were also associated with a lower likelihood of access to pasture. Farms using indoor bedded pack housing for their lactating cows more often provided pasture to this cattle class than farms with freestall or tiestall housing; this likelihood did not differ between farms with tie or freestall housing for this cattle class. Dry cows or pregnant heifers housed in a tiestall were more often provided pasture than freestall-housed dry cows or pregnant heifers. Housing type for weaned, nonpregnant heifers was not associated with the likelihood of pasture provision. Farms in British Columbia or on Canada's East Coast (i.e., Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island) more often provided lactating cows pasture compared with farms in other regions. For the other 3 cattle classes, farms on the East Coast of Canada more often provided pasture than farms in other parts of Canada. These results will inform future decisions regarding outdoor access for Canadian dairy cattle and may also aid in identifying future areas of research. For example, our results may aid in designing housing systems that facilitate outdoor access in larger herds and in areas that are subject to more extreme weather conditions.

Development of a benchmarking tool to assess the welfare of dairy cattle on small-scale farms

Public concern about the welfare of farm animals and the livestock industry's awareness of the need to improve animal welfare have led to the implementation of new tools designed to meet this objective. Especially in the case of small-scale farms in marginalized areas, the lack of available data specifically for assessing welfare led to the present study. Its aim was to use animal- and resource-based indicators that are representative of small-scale farms, to establish an index and develop a benchmarking tool that can be used to dynamically evaluate the welfare of cattle on farms with different husbandry systems and provide farmers, veterinarians, extension officers, and stakeholders with reliable information that can be used as a decision support tool. For this reason, 1,891 cows from 204 herds housed in freestall (n = 111) and tiestall (n = 93) husbandry systems in South Tyrol (Northern Italy) were evaluated. The results showed that 17.6% of herds (36 farms) had an average score below 60 (out of 100), which means that immediate intervention should be adopted to improve welfare. South Tyrolean dairy farms performed well in terms of lameness, skin alterations, avoidance behavior, number and space of lying areas, and dystocia occurrence scores, whereas water supply, cow cleanliness status, claw conformation, and getting-up behavior offered significant potential for improvement. Significant differences were observed between housing systems scoring less than 60 out of 100 points in 9.9% (n = 11) and 26.9%, (n = 25), of the herds kept in freestalls and tiestalls, respectively. A slight difference was found when comparing the percentage of herds with high scores, which corresponded to 30.6% (n = 34) of herds housed in freestalls and 22.6% (n = 21) of herds housed in tiestall housing systems. In addition, it was shown that animals reared on farms with tiestalls more often had problems with body condition, cleanliness, and skin alterations. All individual welfare indicators in the top 25% of herds had scores above 80, indicating that this may be an attainable target for freestall and tiestall herds, respectively, to promote good dairy cow welfare. The overall aim must be to adopt measures to increase the scores on all farms closer to this level.

Prevalence of udder pathogens in milk samples from Norwegian dairy cows recorded in a national database in 2019 and 2020

BackgroundIdentification of aetiological agents of mastitis in dairy cattle is important for herd management of udder health. In Norway, results from mastitis diagnostics are systematically recorded in a central database, so that the dairy industry can follow trends in the recorded frequency of udder pathogens and antimicrobial resistance patterns at national level. However, bacteriological testing of milk samples is based on voluntary sampling, and data are therefore subject to some bias. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of udder pathogens in Norwegian dairy cows by analysing data from the national routine mastitis diagnostics and to explore how routines for sampling and diagnostic interpretations may affect the apparent prevalence of different bacterial pathogens. We also assessed associations between udder pathogen findings and the barn- and milking systems of the herds.ResultsThe most frequently detected major udder pathogens among all milk samples submitted for bacterial culture (n = 36,431) were Staphylococcus aureus (24.5%), Streptococcus dysgalactiae (13.3%) and Streptococcus uberis (9.0%). In the subset of samples from clinical mastitis (n = 7598); Escherichia coli (14.5%) was the second most frequently detected pathogen following S. aureus (27.1%). Staphylococcus epidermidis (10.0%), Corynebacterium bovis (9.4%), and Staphylococcus chromogenes (6.0%) dominated among the minor udder pathogens. Non-aureus staphylococci as a group, identified in 39% of the sampling events, was the most frequently identified udder pathogen in Norway. By using different definitions of cow-level bacterial diagnoses, the distribution of minor udder pathogens changed.Several udder pathogens were associated with the barn- and milking system but the associations were reduced in strength when data were analysed from farms with a comparable herd size. S. aureus was associated with tiestall housing, E. coli and S. dysgalactiae were associated with freestall housing, and S. epidermidis was associated with automatic milking systems.Only 2.5% of the 10,675 tested S. aureus isolates were resistant to benzylpenicillin. Among the 2153 tested non-aureus staphylococci, altogether 34% were resistant to benzylpenicillin.ConclusionsThis study presents the recorded prevalence of udder pathogens in Norway over a two-year period and assesses the possible impact of the sampling strategies, diagnostic methods and diagnostic criteria utilized in Norway, as well as associations with different housing and milking systems. The national database with records of results from routine mastitis diagnostics in Norway provides valuable information about the aetiology of bovine mastitis at population level and can reveal shifts in the distribution and occurrence of udder pathogens.

The prevalence of Campylobacter spp., Listeria monocytogenes and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in Norwegian dairy cattle farms: A comparison between free stall and tie stall housing systems.

AimsThis study explored how dairy farm operating systems with free‐stall or tie‐stall housing and cow hygiene score influence the occurrence of zoonotic bacteria in raw milk.Methods and ResultsSamples from bulk tank milk (BTM), milk filters, faeces, feed, teats and teat milk were collected from 11 farms with loose housing and seven farms with tie‐stall housing every second month over a period of 11 months and analysed for the presence of STEC by culturing combined with polymerase chain reaction and for Campylobacter spp. and L. monocytogenes by culturing only. Campylobacter spp., L. monocytogenes and STEC were present in samples from the farm environment and were also detected in 4%, 13% and 7% of the milk filters, respectively, and in 3%, 0% and 1% of BTM samples. Four STEC isolates carried the eae gene, which is linked to the capacity to cause severe human disease. L. monocytogenes were detected more frequently in loose housing herds compared with tie‐stalled herds in faeces (p = 0.02) and feed (p = 0.03), and Campylobacter spp. were detected more frequently in loose housing herds in faeces (p < 0.01) and teat swabs (p = 0.03). An association between cow hygiene score and detection of Campylobacter spp. in teat milk was observed (p = 0.03).ConclusionSince some samples collected from loose housing systems revealed a significantly higher (p < 0.05) content of L. monocytogenes and Campylobacter spp. than samples collected from tie‐stalled herds, the current study suggests that the type of housing system may influence the food safety of raw milk.Significance and Impact of the StudyThis study highlights that zoonotic bacteria can be present in raw milk independent of hygienic conditions at the farm and what housing system is used. Altogether, this study provides important knowledge for evaluating the risk of drinking unpasteurized milk.

PSX-B-19 Behaviour of cows while being tested for methane emissions using the greenfeed system

Abstract Increased focus on sustainability is driving a need for environmental efficiency traits in dairy cattle breeding. Breeding for reduced emission of methane, an inevitable product of fermentation in ruminants, is increasingly being explored. Methods to measure methane emissions vary but can be impacted by cow behaviour. As part of an on-going project to develop genomic tools for breeding resilient dairy cows, we explored changes in cow behaviour over time during methane emission measurements. First lactation heifers (n = 49) were tested in tie-stall housing at a research herd in Ontario, Canada. Animals were tested over 5 consecutive days at 08:00h, 12:00h, and 16:00h each day for a 10-min period using the GreenFeed system (C-Lock Inc., Rapid City, SD, USA). The frequency of movement (body shifts and leg lifts) and the number of seconds the cow removed her head from the machine were recorded. The effect of day on the average frequency of movements or time the cow’s head was outside of the machine was assessed using a repeated measures model. In general, cows moved their legs the most on day 1 of testing (76 ± 5.0 movements per 10 min), after which it numerically decreased (e.g., day 5: 68 ± 5.0 movements per 10 min, P = 0.1110). A similar effect was observed for seconds the cow had her head out of the machine (P = 0.0650). Cows spent an average of 39 ± 5.7 sec with their head outside of the machine on day 1 versus 25 ± 3.6 sec on day 5 (P = 0.0499). These preliminary results suggest that cows adapt to the testing conditions; however, changes in their behaviour were minor and do not intervene with recording of methane emissions using the GreenFeed system.

NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF BEDDING AND LYING AREA ON SYNCHRONIZED ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION IN DAIRY CAWS IN SARAJEVO KANTON

Dairy cattle breeding is one of the most important branches of livestock production, which has been facing, for several decades, the chronic problem of declining reproductive performance. In 2005, the number of cattle worldwide was about 1,370,000,000, while in 2015 that number dropped below one billion, and in 2021 it shows a slight recovery as it was 1,000,970. This indicates the importance of applying different reproductive protocols in order to increase the number of cows in production. The type of bedding on which the animals stay, as well as the characteristics of the lying area itself, shows a significant impact on numerous physiological functions such as food intake, chewing, milk yield, but also levels of sex hormones. The type of bedding and lying area, which causes chronic pain and stress, leads to disorders of physiological and reproductive processes, since stress has direct negative impact on numerous cellular functions. A total of 66 dairy cows, 50 Holstein-Friesian cows kept on PD Butmir and 16 Simmental cows kept on a private mini farm, were included in the study. At PD Butmir, cows were kept in tie-stall housing system, while on a mini-farm they were kept free. Hormonal protocols of estrus and ovulation synchronization were used in April, May and June 2019. Cows were subjected to two estrus synchronization and ovulation protocols, Ovsynch and Cosynch72. At PD Butmir, 25 cows were subjected to Ovsynch and Cosynch72 protocols, respectively. At the mini-farm only Ovsynch protocol was applied. The Ovsynch protocol applied on PD Butmir had success in conception rate of 12% (n = 3), while the Cosynch72 protocol gave a score of 36% (n = 9). On the mini-farm, Ovsynch resulted in a conception of 25% (n = 4). Based on our results, the Cosynch72 protocol, compared to the Ovsynch protocol, was a better choice in the case of Holstein-Friesian cows kept in the tie-stall housing system. In the Simmental cows kept in the free stall system, the Ovsynch protocol proved to be better choice in achieving conception, compared to the Holstein-Friesian cows. Therefore, it is necessary to test several different protocols of estrus and ovulation synchronization, in order to find the most optimal one for a certain breed, type of keeping and breeding.

Design and implementation of a survey quantifying winter housing and bedding types used on Vermont organic dairy farms

We conducted a descriptive observational study to quantify the frequency and diversity of winter housing and bedding types used by organic dairy farmers in Vermont. This report describes the survey methods, results, successes, limitations, and lessons learned from administering the survey. Beginning in December 2018, a short questionnaire was administered by web, mail, and telephone to a source population defined as all producers of organic dairy cow milk in Vermont (n = 177) listed in the United States Department of Agriculture Organic Integrity database. Our approach yielded an 82% (n = 145) response from certified organic farms producing cow milk in Vermont at the time of the survey. The 3 most common housing and bedding material combinations used by respondents were tiestall housing with wood (sawdust or shavings) bedding materials (45%), freestall housing with wood bedding materials (14%), and freestall housing with sand bedding (12%). Fifteen percent of respondents reported using more than one type of facility for winter housing of lactating cattle. The median number of lactating cows on farms among respondents was 59.5 (range: 2-400), and the odds of using more than one type of facility to house lactating cows increased positively with the number of lactating cows reported for a herd. Breed distribution was similar across the housing and bedding type categories. An association between frequency of individual cow milk somatic cell count testing and housing type was identified; respondents using freestall sand facilities tested less frequently than respondents using tiestalls with wood bedding. Although the questionnaire length limited the amount of information gathered, the response proportion was exceptional, and overall our survey results provide valuable insight on Vermont organic dairy housing and bedding practices that should inform future extension and outreach efforts for this sector of the dairy industry.

Duration of calving stages in beef cows under different housing systems

The goal of research was to analyze the calving process and duration of calving stages in beef cows under moderately continental climate conditions and various systems of housing and feeding. Duration of calving stages have been studied in Ukrainian Beef breed cows under four types of housing conditions: tie-stall housing before and during calving; free stall housing before calving with calving in the calving pens; housing in the outside paddocks and calving in the calving pens; keeping cows on pasture before and during calving. It has been proved that under tie-stall housing system of cows, the preparatory stage is the shortest, and period of withdrawal of the fetus and period of placenta discharge are the most prolonged. When cows were kept on pastures, the preparatory stage labour lasted for or a longer time, but the withdrawal of the fetus and the after-labour period were the shortest. When close-up cows stayed in free-stall barns and calved in the pens or calving chutes, the stages of labour went faster as compared to calving in the outside paddocks, but longer as compared to calving on pasture. Movement of cows from outside paddocks into calving pens increases variability in the duration of parturition, due to the stress of changing location.

Making tiestalls more comfortable: II. Increasing chain length to improve the ease of movement of dairy cows

Although most farms in Canada still use tiestall housing for dairy cows, little information is available pertaining to cow comfort and behavior in such systems. Tiestalls are often criticized as they offer a reduced dynamic space to cows, thereby restricting their ability to move. The object of this study was to see if increasing the length of the tie chain provides cows with improved movement opportunities and to measure its effect on cows' rising and lying movements and behaviors. Two treatments were tested: the current recommendation of 1.00 m (recommended) and a longer chain of 1.40 m (long). Twenty-four cows (12/treatment) were blocked by parity number and lactation stage, then randomly allocated to a treatment and a stall within one of 2 rows in the research barn for 10 wk. Leg-mounted accelerometers were used to record lying behaviors and moments of transition between lying and standing positions for all cows. Cows were video-recorded for 24 h/wk using cameras positioned above the stall. The videos were used to evaluate the cows' rising and lying-down movements on wk 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, and 10. Six rising and 6 lying-down motions per cow per week were assessed by a trained observer to detect the presence of abnormal behaviors. Differences between and within treatments over time were analyzed in SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC) using a mixed model with treatment, week, and block as fixed effects and with row and cow as random effects. Data from wk 1-3 were grouped together as the short-term effects, and those from wk 8-10 as the long-term effects. Week 6 was used as the mid-term assessment for analysis. Multiple comparisons between terms were accounted for using a Scheffé adjustment. Results indicate that duration of intention movements (exploratory head movements made by cows before lying down) is shorter in cows with longer chains (13.6 ± 1.03 s vs. 16.8 ± 1.01 s). It was also significantly shorter in the long term compared with the short term for both treatments (13.3 ± 0.92 s vs. 16.9 ± 0.81 s). These results suggest that increasing the chain length improves the cows' ease of movement and transitions, although all cows became more at ease in their surroundings with time. It may provide evidence of a potential way to improve the dynamic space provided to cows in tiestall systems, using a simple, affordable modification.

Factors Associated With Lameness in Tie Stall Housed Dairy Cows in South Germany.

Lameness remains a major concern for animal welfare and productivity in modern dairy production. Even though a trend toward loose housing systems exists and the public expects livestock to be kept under conditions where freedom of movement and the expression of natural behavior are ensured, restrictive housing systems continue to be the predominant type of housing in some regions. Factors associated with lameness were evaluated by application of multiple logistic regression modeling on data of 1,006 dairy cows from 56 tie stall farms in Bavaria, South Germany. In this population, approximately every fourth cow was lame (24.44% of scored animals). The mean farm level prevalence of lameness was 23.28%. In total, 22 factors were analyzed regarding their association with lameness. A low Body Condition Score (BCS) (OR 1.54 [95%-CI 1.05–2.25]) as well as increasing parity (OR 1.41 [95%-CI 1.29–1.54]) entailed greater odds of lameness. Moreover, higher milk yield (OR 0.98 [95%-CI 0.96–1.00]) and organic farming (OR 0.48 [95%-0.25–0.92]) appeared to be protectively associated with lameness. Cows with hock injuries (OR 2.57 [95%-CI 1.41–4.67]) or with swellings of the ribs (OR 2.55 [95%-CI 1.53–4.23]) had higher odds of lameness. A similar association was observed for the contamination of the lower legs with distinct plaques of manure (OR 1.88 [95%-CI 1.14–3.10]). As a central aspect of tie stall housing, the length of the stalls was associated with lameness; with stalls of medium [(>158–171 cm) (OR 2.15 [95%-CI 1.29–3.58]) and short (≤158 cm) length (OR 4.07 [95%-CI 2.35–7.05]) increasing the odds compared with long stalls (>171 cm). These results can help both gaining knowledge on relevant factors associated with lameness as well as approaching the problem of dairy cow lameness in tie stall operations.

Serum amyloid A as an marker of cow֨ s mastitis caused by Streptococcus sp.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the concentrations of amyloid A in serum (SAA) and in milk (MAA) of cows with mastitis caused by Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Streptococcus uberis and healthy cows. The blood and milk samples were obtained from Holstein-Friesian cows with clinical signs of mastitis from two tie-stall housing systems herds in the Lublin region in Poland. A total of 80 milk and serum samples from 30 cows with mastitis and 10 healthy cows were selected for study. In the quarter milk samples from cows with mastitis Streptococcus strains were isolated: Strep. agalactiae (7 cows), Strep. dysgalactiae (9 cows) and Strep. uberis (14 cows). The present study indicates that amyloid A concentration was significantly higher in milk of cows with mastitis compared to control cows (1134.25 ng/mL and 324.50 ng/mL, P < 0.001). The highest concentration of amyloid A was found in milk of cows with mastitis caused by Strep. agalactiae and Strep. uberis whereas lowest in the milk of cows with mastitis caused by Strep. dysgalactiae (3882.50 ng/mL, 2587.75 ng/mL and 812.00 ng/mL, respectively). No statistically significant difference in amyloid A concentration in serum was revealed between all unhealthy cows and control group (2140.00 ng/mL and 2510.00 ng/mL, P > 0.05). There was also no statistically significant difference between the level of amyloid A in serum and in milk of cows with mastitis caused by Strep. agalactiae and Strep. uberis. Whereas, in the case of Strep. dysgalactiae, like in the group of healthy cows, the level of amyloid A was significantly higher in serum compared to this in milk (2100 ng/mL and 812.00 ng/mL, P < 0.001; 2510.00 ng/mL and 324.50 ng/mL, P < 0.001; respectively).

Relationships between dietary and cow factors with the fecal phosphorus contents of dairy cows in Manitoba

A survey was carried out on 19 dairy farms in Manitoba that varied in size, diet composition, housing, and feeding strategy to identify factors that affect the phosphorus (P) content of feces. On each farm, 10 early, 10 mid, and 10 late lactation cows were included. Multiple regression analysis showed that high dietary P concentrations and free-stall instead of tie-stall housing were mostly associated with high P contents of feces. Hence, a closer matching of the requirements and supply of P of dairy cows enhances the utilization of dietary P on these farms.

Short communication: Use of the Clegg hammer measure as an indicator of stall-surface compressibility in tie-stall housing and its relationship with stall comfort

Stall base and stall surface (i.e., with or without bedding) are key risk factors in cow comfort in dairy herds. In Canada, rubber mats, concrete floors, and mattresses are the most common stall bases used in tie-stall systems. Straw, wood shavings, and sand, at variable depths, are the most commonly used type of bedding. The Clegg hammer (Clegg Impact Soil Tester Hammer; Lafayette Instrument Company, Lafayette, IN) is a tool used by engineers to test the compressibility of pavement or golf course surfaces. Recently, this tool has also been used to measure the compressibility of the stall surface on freestall dairy farms. A total of 32 tie-stall dairy herds were selected in Québec to test the usefulness of the Clegg hammer as a tool to assess stall surface compressibility in tie-stall housing. This study had 2 main objectives: (1) identify the location and the number of measurements needed to obtain a stable indicator of compressibility, and (2) identify differences in the compressibility of the stall surface depending on the stall base and bedding depth. On each farm, we tested the compressibility of 10 stalls. No significant differences were found between the front and the back of the stall for the location of the Clegg hammer measures. The differences in readings of the Clegg hammer were nonsignificant after the third measure taken at the same location, meaning that 3 measures are sufficient at one location to obtain a compressibility measure. Significant differences were found among the different stall base and surface combinations tested. Rubber mats were less compressible than mattresses. When a large quantity of bedding (>7.5 cm) was added on top of rubber mats, the compressibility results were equal to those of mattresses ≥10 yr old without bedding. To appropriately test the compressibility of stall surface in tie-stall farms, we recommend measuring the compressibility of the stall base on its own and with the usual amount of bedding used on the farm. Our study establishes that both stall base and surface affect compressibility, and that a large quantity of bedding helps increase the compressibility of the bed, especially on a harder stall base.

Assessment of Welfare Problems in Finnish Cattle and Pig Farms Based on Official Inspection Reports.

Simple SummaryOfficial on-farm inspections are carried out throughout the European Union every year to ensure farm compliance with animal welfare standards. The aim of this study was to analyze Finnish inspection data in order to find out how well cattle and pig farms comply with animal welfare standards, to reveal the most common non-compliances and to identify possible farm risk factors. About every fourth inspected Finnish cattle and pig farm did not comply with the animal welfare standards. Examples of factors that increased the risk of non-compliance were small herd size, tie-stall housing and outdoor rearing. Inadequate lying area in cattle farms and a lack of enrichment material in pig farms were the most common non-compliances. The regional differences found may indicate differences in inspectors’ interpretations or ways in conducting inspections. As the official inspection reports contain valuable information about the welfare problems on farms, the reports should be better utilized in risk analysis, in targeting farmer education, and in making the inspections more uniform.The competent authorities of the Member States of the European Union are required to perform animal welfare inspections on livestock farms. The data obtained from these official inspections performed in Finnish cattle and pig farms in 2010–2015 were used with the aim of estimating the prevalence of the most common non-compliances and identifying underlying risk factors. The prevalence of non-compliant cattle and pig farms was 24.2% and 27.9%, respectively. In cattle, the most common problem was an inadequate lying area followed by deficient housing conditions for calves; in pigs, it was a lack of enrichment material. The non-compliances concerning cattle were most frequently detected in autumn and in farms with small herd size, with tie-stall housing and outdoor rearing year-round. The pig farms with a farrow-to-finish unit had a higher prevalence of non-compliances than other production types. The prevalence of the non-compliant farms differed notably between the regions. It can be concluded that the cattle welfare inspections should be performed with a focus on the cold and rainy seasons and at small farms, whereas the pig welfare inspections should mainly focus on farrow-to-finish units. The data received from official inspections should be efficiently utilized in the development of animal welfare inspection system, with the aim of risk-based, consistent and uniform inspections. In addition, the data should be utilized in targeting information for farmers.

Management characteristics of Pennsylvania dairy farms

ABSTRACT Objective Our objective was to characterize dairy farming strategies in Pennsylvania to provide baseline data for modeling and assessing economic and environmental impacts of the industry. Material and Methods The USDA’s Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) data were used to characterize management practices for 5 dairy farm strategies and 4 herd size categories. Production strategies were confinement, semi-confinement, organic, management intensive rotational grazing, and Amish (use of draft animals with no use of electricity or mobile, powered equipment). Results and Discussion Cattle breed and homegrown and purchased feed type and quantity differed significantly among the 5 strategies, whereas housing and manure management varied with herd size. Solid manure handling was used on 41% of farms, consistent with small herd sizes and wide use of tiestall housing (34% of farms). Confinement dairy farms maintained more cows with greater milk production per cow and had more crop area per cow with less reliance on purchased feeds than the weighted average dairy farm. These farms received the lowest net return per unit of milk, which is consistent with a reduction in the number of small confinement farms from the year 2000 to 2010. Although organic dairy producers had 37% greater variable costs, primarily from the high cost of organic feeds, these farms received the greatest return per unit of milk sold through a 51% greater milk price received. Implications and Applications Management practices found on Pennsylvania dairy farms around the year 2010 are documented to support further assessment of production practices and sustainability of the industry.

EFFECT OF CERTAIN BARN CONSTRUCTION CHARACTERISTICS ON INDOOR CLIMATE STATUS IN DAIRY BARNS IN BOSNIA AND HEREGOVINA

The aim of this field study was to describe climatic status in dairy barns in lowland and in mountainous regions of BiH, and to examine correlations between chosen housing parameters and indoor climate. Totally 76 herds were visited once by a team of trained observers in 18 municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. All barns in mountain region had tie-stall housing system (MH), while 30 barns in lowland regions had tie-stall system (LTS) and 8 of those loose housing (LLH) with or without cubicles. Presence of CO2 was quite different between groups, the average lowest was found in LLH and it was 627.5 ppm (ranging from 390 – 890), in LTS 936.7 (390-1690), in MH 1105.7 (390-5390). The highest measures roof temperatures were at LTS, and the average was 12.7, while in LLH were 10.49, MH 11.14 and AF 11.70. Mean floor area per animal for all farms was 6 m2/animal, in MH 6.4, LTS 5.4 and LLH 6 m2/animal. Mean barn volume for all farms was 27.9 m3/animal, in MH 25.5, LTS 26.5 and LLH 44.2 m3/animal. Average barn height was 3.6 m for AF, 5.7 m for LLH, 4 m for LTS and 2.8 meters for MH. The negative correlations between construction environment parameters was found for all combinations except for the air velocity in LTS barns. Some of the construction parameters could help in overall estimation of the housing quality in dairy cattle barns.

Effect of selected factors on the body condition of dairy cows managed in the free-stall and tie-stall housing systems

Effect of selected factors on the body condition of dairy cows managed in the free-stall and tie-stall housing systems