Cow's functional traits and physiological status and their relation with milk yield and milk quality in a compost bedded pack barn system

Abstract

Animal production systems and agribusiness Full-length research article Cow's functional traits and physiological status and their relation with milk yield and milk quality in a compost bedded pack barn system ABSTRACT-We aimed to determine the relationship of milk yield, milk composition, and somatic cell score (SCS) with functional traits (lameness score, udder cleanliness score, udder depth, and teat end hyperkeratosis score) and physiological status (parity and days in milk (DIM) of cows housed in compost bedded pack barn system (CBP) using multivariate analysis. Data were collected in September and October of 2017 and evaluated using factor and cluster analysis. Four factors were formed, with the first factor showing the traits responsible for altering the lactose content in milk, the second factor comprising the effect of DIM, the third factor representing the teat end hyperkeratosis score, and the fourth factor demonstrating the udder cleanliness. The cluster analysis formed three clusters. Clusters 2 and 3 differed for protein and lactose content, SCS, parity, DIM, lameness score, and udder depth. Cluster 1 differed from the others, especially due to the high milk yield. Cow conformation traits and physiological status affected milk yield and composition in CBP. There is an association between udder depth, parity, and SCS with negative impact on lactose content. Parity is also associated with higher milk yield and teat end hyperkeratosis score. Cows with lower lameness score presented dirtier udders due to increased movements on the feed parlor and water troughs areas. Special attention to the improvement of the udder conformation traits, as well as management practices that reduce hyperkeratosis, are necessary to keep high yielding, healthy, and cows with higher longevity. The cleanliness in the feed parlor and water troughs area is very important to preserve milk quality and healthy cows.

Compost Dairy Barn Layout and Management Recommendations in Kentucky: A Descriptive Study

“…The average production of cows (27.2 kg∙day −1 ) in our study was similar to that reported in Kentucky previously (27.3 kg∙day −1 ) [ 8 ]. The average fat (3.85%) and protein (2.35%) contents are comparable to those reported in other studies [ 10 , 45 , 48 ].…”

“…Most cows were Holstein (72.7%), followed by crossbred (20.5%) and Jersey (6.8%). Studies have reported the use of different breeds of dairy cattle in confinements of the CBP model [ 8 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 ]. The average production of cows (27.2 kg∙day −1 ) in our study was similar to that reported in Kentucky previously (27.3 kg∙day −1 ) [ 8 ].…”

Tópicos em Agroecologia, Volume 3

“…O elevado nível de limpeza da vaca é indicador de menor risco de exposição a agentes patogênicos ambientais, relacionando-se com elevada incidência de mastites e altas contagens individuais de células somáticas (CERQUEIRA et al, 2011). Evidenciando que a limpeza e a higiene das instalações de ordenha são importantes para se reduzir a ocorrência e a disseminação da mastite, especialmente áreas pós-ordenha (KAPPES et al, 2020).…”

Relationships between Animal Welfare Scores and Milk Somatic Cell Count in Anatolian Buffaloes

“…To ensure more optimal barns, animal needs were designed as a chart, which described as Animal Needs Index (ANI) by Bartussek (2001). Reports clearly informed considerable associations between barn conditions and milk quality or quantity in cattle herds (Hristov et al, 2014;Kappes et al, 2020). Practically, ANI chart gives an opportunity for redesigning recent herd management applications to the herd owners.…”