The objective of the research was to characterize herd performance, producer satisfaction and recommendations, and management practices used by compost bedded pack (CBP) managers in Kentucky (42 farms and 47 CBP facilities). Farms were visited between October 2010 and March 2011. A random selection of cows housed solely in the CBP were scored for locomotion and hygiene. Changes in monthly Dairy Herd Improvement Association performance records, including milk production, SCC, reproductive performance, and daily bulk-tank somatic cell count after moving into the CBP were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS (SAS 9.3; SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). The GLM procedure of SAS (SAS 9.3) was used to develop models to describe CBP moisture, CBP temperature at 20.3 cm, and mean herd hygiene. Producers provided 9.0 ± 2.2 m2 of pack space per cow (n = 44). Barns constructed with an attached feed alley cost $1,051 ± 407 per cow (n = 40). Barns constructed without an attached feed alley cost $493 ± 196 per cow (n = 13). Kiln-dried shavings required 0.05 ± 0.04 m3 of bedding per cow per day (n = 15). Green shavings required 0.07 ± 0.06 m3 of bedding per cow per day (n = 12). The most-frequently cited benefits of the CBP included cow comfort (n = 28), cow cleanliness (n = 14), and the low-maintenance nature of the system (n = 10). Increased stirring frequency, stirring depth, and ambient temperature increased pack temperature, measured at 20.3 cm below the CBP surface. Increased stirring depth, pasture-adjusted space per cow, and drying rate decreased CBP moisture. Mean herd locomotion and hygiene scores were 1.5 ± 0.3 (n = 34) and 2.2 ± 0.4 (n = 34), respectively. Increased 20.3-cm depth CBP temperature and ambient temperatures improved mean herd hygiene. Bulk-tank somatic cell count decreased from the year before to the year after moving into the CBP barn (323,692 ± 7,301 vs. 252,859 ± 7,112 cells/mL, respectively) for farms using the CBP barn as the primary housing facility (n = 9). Daily milk production, collected from monthly Dairy Herd Improvement Association tests, increased from before moving into the CBP barn to the second year after (29.3 ± 0.3 vs. 30.7 ± 0.3 kg, respectively) for farms using the CBP barn as the primary housing facility (n = 8). Calving interval decreased from the year before to the second year after (14.3 ± 0.1 vs. 13.7 ± 0.1 mo) moving into the CBP barn for farms using the CBP as primary housing (n = 8).

Compost-bedded pack barns (CBP) are receiving increasing attention as a housing system for dairy cows that has potential to improve animal welfare. This article reviews current scientific knowledge about CBP with the aim of providing a comprehensive tool for producers and researchers using this housing system. In CBP, cows are provided with an open bedded pack area rather than the individual stalls and concrete alleys found in freestall systems. The bedded pack, a mixture of organic bedding and cattle excreta, is cultivated frequently (1-3 times per day) to incorporate fresh manure and air into the pack, thus promoting an aerobic composting process. To function well, CBP generally require a large area per cow. Optimal animal densities over the bedded area range from 7.4 to more than 15 m 2 /cow depending on several factors, including climate, bedding, pack management, and cow characteristics. Studies have indicated that CBP, compared with conventional systems such as freestall barns, have the potential to improve the welfare of dairy cows. In particular, the main reported benefits include improved comfort during resting, better foot and leg health, and more natural animal behavior. Research has also indicated that adequate udder health can be achieved in CBP. However, because the bedded pack has been shown to contain high bacterial concentrations, proper management is essential to maintain adequate cow cleanliness and reduce the risk of mastitis. Controlling pack moisture is consistently indicated as the most important issue with CBP. Especially under cold and humid weather conditions, large amounts of bedding may be necessary to keep the pack adequately dry and comfortable for the cows. Nevertheless, the improvements in cow health may offset the higher costs of bedding.

The objective of this study was to assess the relationships among temperature, moisture, carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratio, space per cow, and bacterial counts from bedding material collected from compost bedded pack (CBP) barns. A field survey of 42 routinely aerated CBP barns was conducted in Kentucky between October 2010 and March 2011. Two bedding material samples of 1,064.7 cm(3) each were collected during a single site visit from 9 evenly distributed locations throughout each barn and thoroughly mixed to create a composite sample representative of the entire CBP. Bacterial counts were determined for coliforms, Escherichia coli, streptococci, staphylococci, and Bacillus spp. University of Kentucky Regulatory Services (Lexington) laboratory personnel performed nutrient analyses to determine moisture, carbon, and nitrogen contents. Surface and 10.2-cm pack depth temperatures were collected for each of the 9 evenly distributed locations and the mean calculated to produce a composite temperature. Space per cow was calculated as the total CBP area divided by number of cows housed on the CBP. The GLM procedure of SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC) generated models to describe factors affecting bacterial counts. Bacterial counts were 6.3 ± 0.6, 6.0 ± 0.6, 7.2 ± 0.7, 7.9 ± 0.5, and 7.6 ± 0.5 log 10 cfu/g of dry matter for coliform, Escherichia coli, streptococci, staphylococci, and Bacillus spp., respectively. Composite temperature, CBP moisture, C:N ratio, and space per cow had no effect on coliform counts. Escherichia coli reached a peak concentration when the C:N ratio was between 30:1 and 35:1. Staphylococci counts increased as ambient temperature increased. Streptococci counts decreased with increased space per cow and composite temperature and increased with increasing ambient temperature and moisture. Streptococci counts peaked at a C:N ratio ranging from 16:1 to 18:1. Bacillus spp. counts were reduced with increasing moisture, C:N ratio, and ambient temperature. Mastitis-causing bacteria thrive in similar conditions to that of composting bacteria and microbes, making elimination of these at higher temperatures (55 to 65°C) difficult in an active composting environment. Producers must use recommended milking procedures and other preventative practices to maintain low somatic cell count in herds with a CBP barn.

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RESUMOObjetivou-se, com esta pesquisa, avaliar as condições do ambiente interno em dois galpões comerciais de frangos de corte equipados com dois sistemas de resfriamento diferentes: placas porosas umedecidas de celulose associadas à nebulização (SRPN) e placas umedecidas de sombrite associadas à nebulização (SRSN). Nos galpões estudados, situados em Itaberaí, GO, foram avaliadas quatro variáveis térmicas (temperatura, índice de temperatura de globo negro e umidade, carga térmica de radiação e entalpia), três respostas fisiológicas (temperaturas retal e da pele, e frequência respiratória) e três índices de desempenho produtivo (ganho de peso, consumo de ração e conversão alimentar) das aves. Os resultados indicaram que os sistemas avaliados não foram suficientemente adequados para promover condições de conforto às aves, não sendo observada diferença estatística significativa entre o desempenho das aves neles alojados. A taxa de mortalidade no galpão SRSN foi 15% maior em relação ao galpão SRPN, porém, ambas são inferiores àquelas sugeridas para as aves em estudo.Termos para indexação: Frango de corte, conforto térmico, resposta fisiológica, desempenho produtivo. ABSTRACTThe main goal of this study was to evaluate the environmental conditions inside two commercial broiler houses equipped with different cooling systems: wet cellulose pads associated with misting (SRPN) and wet black screen pads associated with misting (SRSN). In the studied broiler houses, located in Itaberaí, Goiás, Brazil, four thermal variables (temperature, black globe temperature and humidity indices, thermal radiation load and enthalpy), three physiological responses (rectal temperature, skin temperature and respiration frequency), and three productivity performance indexes (weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion) for broiler chickens were evaluated. The results indicate that the evaluated systems were not sufficient to promote thermal comfort conditions for the birds and in general, no significant statistical difference was noticed between the performances of the birds raised in the two broiler houses. The mortality rate in the SRSN system was 15% higher than in the SRPN system, however, both are lower than those suggested for the birds under study. Index terms: INTRODUÇÃOA avicultura de corte vem se apresentando como uma das mais importantes fontes de proteína animal. Para isso, a produção de carne de frango no Brasil passou por um grande desenvolvimento nas últimas décadas, sendo que para atingir essa posição de destaque, uma série de fatores foram fundamentais, tais como a aquisição de novos conhecimentos específicos nas áreas de nutrição, genética, manejo e bem-estar das aves, permitindo que índices positivos fossem alcançados. Os fatores térmicos, representados principalmente pela temperatura do ar (t bs ), umidade relativa (UR), radiação térmica e velocidade do ar (V), são aqueles que afetam mais diretamente as aves, pois podem comprometer a sua homeotermia. De acordo com Sainsbury (1971), Yousef (1985 e Medeiros (2001), de fo...

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RESUMO.O regime de confinamento para a exploração de carne e leite, é pratica comum, recorrente e necessária em muitos países. Nos últimos tempos tornou-se crescente a preocupação com o planejamento das instalações destinadas aos confinamentos para bovinos leiteiros para melhorar o conforto e bem-estar dos animais. Dessa forma, esta revisão tem por objetivo descrever os tipos de confinamentos para bovinos leiteiros, existentes no momento, dando maior ênfase para as características construtivas de cada sistema. Os animais confinados podem ter um padrão aceitável de bem-estar e conforto à medida que instalações adequadas sejam fornecidas junto com boas práticas de manejo e sanidade animal. Com a pesquisa foi possível observar que a tendência é aumentar o número de confinamento no Brasil e no mundo devido à falta de grandes áreas de terras disponíveis próximas aos grandes centros urbanos, e devido as exigências dos consumidores.Palavras Chave: Conforto animal, planejamento de instalações, sistemas de produção Feedlot for dairy cattle: history and characteristicsABSTRACT. The confinement regime for the exploration of meat and milk is a common, recurrent and necessary practice in many countries. In recent times there has been growing concern about the planning of facilities for confinement for dairy cattle to improve comfort and wellbeing of the animals. The purpose of this review is to describe the types of feedlots for dairy cattle, currently available, giving greater emphasis to the constructive characteristics of each system. Confined animals may have an acceptable standard of wellbeing and comfort as appropriate facilities are provided along with good animal health and management practices. An increasing trend of the number of confinement in Brazil and in of world could be noted based on this study. The reason for that is the lack of large areas of available land near urban centers and due to exigencies of consumers.

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