Animal health in compost-bedded pack and cubicle dairy barns in six European countries

Emanuelson, Ulf (author), Brügemann, Kerstin (author), Klopčič, Marija (author), Leso, Lorenzo (author), Ouweltjes, Wijbrand (author), Zentner, Andreas (author), Blanco-Penedo, Isabel (author)

The purpose of this study was to compare animal health in compost-bedded pack (CBP) and cubicle housing (CH) systems using data from dairy herd improvement associations. Thirty-two commercial dairy farms located in Austria, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Slovenia, and Sweden were included in the study. A matching design (pairing CBP and CH within country) according to herd selection criteria was used. We explored the following health indicators: somatic cell counts (SCC), high SCC, new high SCC, ketosis risk, prolonged calving intervals, dystocia, and stillbirth. Traits for culling and culling-related issues, such as length of life and length of productive life, were also included. We used multivariable (mixed) linear and logistic regression models to evaluate differences between the systems. Udder health, as measured by SCC, was inferior in CBP, although the geometric means were low in both systems. The incidence of stillbirths was higher in CBP, while prolonged calving intervals were fewer, indicating that there were fewer reproductive disorders. There were no differences in longevity between the systems, although CBP had lower proportions of first calvers. Overall, we conclude that there were few and minor differences in health and longevity between the CBP and CH systems in the European context.

• Language: English
• Keywords: dairy cattle, housing system, management, health traits, disease incidence, mastitis, longevity
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2022
• Number of pages: 9 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 12, iss. 3, art. 396
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-135311
• UDC: 636.2
• ISSN on article: 2076-2615
• DOI: 10.3390/ani12030396
• COBISS.SI-ID: 96726787
• Publication date in RUL: 07.03.2022

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Animals
• Shortened title: Animals
• Publisher: MDPI AG
• ISSN: 2076-2615
• COBISS.SI-ID: 519120409

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 07.02.2022

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: govedoreja, krave, molznice, uhlevitev, nastil, kompostni hlev, prosta reja, EU

Projects

• Funder: EC - European Commission
• Funding programme: H2020
• Project number: 696231
• Name: European Research Area on Sustainable Animal Production Systems
• Acronym: SusAn

• Funder: EC - European Commission
• Funding programme: ERA-NET SusAn
• Acronym: FreeWalk