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Microscopic differential cell count and specific mastitis pathogens in cow milk from compost-bedded pack barns and cubicle barns

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 January 2022

Patricia Wagner ,
Kerstin Brügemann ,
Tong Yin ,
Petra Engel ,
Christina Weimann ,
Karen Schlez  and
Sven König
Patricia Wagner
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Giessen, 35390Giessen, Germany
Kerstin Brügemann
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Giessen, 35390Giessen, Germany
Tong Yin
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Giessen, 35390Giessen, Germany
Petra Engel
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Giessen, 35390Giessen, Germany
Christina Weimann
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Giessen, 35390Giessen, Germany
Karen Schlez
Affiliation:
Landesbetrieb Hessisches Landeslabor, Schubertstraße 60, D-35392Gießen, Germany
Sven König*
Affiliation:
Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Giessen, 35390Giessen, Germany
*
Author for correspondence: Sven König, Email: sven.koenig@agrar.uni-giessen.de
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Abstract

Compost bedded pack barns (compost) as a new free walk housing system favorably influence udder health due to improved animal welfare and lying comfort. On the other hand, unfavorable effects on udder health are possible, due to the open bedded pack and the associated larger bacterial content in moisture. For in-depth farming system comparisons, the present study aimed to evaluate the specific cell fractions and mastitis pathogens in milk from cows kept in compost and in conventional cubical barns (cubicle). For milk sample collection we used a repeated measurement data structure of 2,198 udder quarters from 537 Holstein cows kept in six herds (3 in compost and 3 in cubicle). Differential cell counting was conducted including lymphocytes, macrophages and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). Specific mastitis pathogens comprised major and minor pathogens. Mixed models were applied to infer environmental and cow associated effects on cell fractions and on prevalences for pathogen infections, with specific focus on system × lactation stage, system × milk yield and system × somatic cell count effects. The interaction between system and lactation stage showed significant differences (P < 0.01) between the systems. A significantly smaller number of bacteriologically positive quarters and lower prevalences for minor pathogens were detected in compost compared to cubicle. Least squares means for pathogen prevalences indicated a quite constant proportion of bacteriologically negative udder quarters across milk yield levels in compost, but a slight increase with increasing milk yield in cubicle. Cell fraction responses in both systems differed in relation to the overall bacteriological infection status and farming system particularities. In conclusion, different cell fractions and specific mastitis pathogens should be considered as an indicator for udder health in different production systems, taking into account cow associated factors (lactation stage, milk yield).

Keywords

Compost-bedded pack barnsdairy cowsmastitis pathogensmicroscopical cell count
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Dairy Research , Volume 88 , Issue 4 , November 2021 , pp. 413 - 419
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Hannah Dairy Research Foundation

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