Effects of winter housing systems on production, economics, body weight, body condition score, and bedding cultures for organic dairy cows

Abstract

Certified-organic dairy cows (n = 268) were used to evaluate the effect of 2 winter (December to April) housing systems on milk production, somatic cell score (SCS), body weight, body condition score (BCS), and economics across 3 winter seasons (2013, 2014, and 2015). Bedding cultures from the housing systems were also evaluated. Cows were randomly assigned to 2 treatments (2 replicates per group): (1) outdoor (straw pack, n = 140) or (2) indoor (3-sided compost bedded pack barn, n = 128). Cows calved during 2 seasons (spring or fall) at the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center, Morris, Minnesota, organic dairy. Milk, fat, and protein production and SCS were recorded from monthly milk recording. Body weight and BCS were recorded biweekly as cows exited the milking parlor. Bedding cultures from the housing systems were collected biweekly. Costs for key inputs and the price received for milk production were recorded for the study period and averaged for use in the profitability analysis. Energy-corrected milk and SCS were not different for the outdoor (15.1 kg/d, 2.64) and indoor (15.7 kg/d, 2.57) housing systems, respectively. In addition, cows in the outdoor and indoor housing systems were not different for body weight (528 vs. 534 kg) and BCS (3.22 vs. 3.23), respectively. Daily dry matter intake was 19.1 kg/d for the outdoor cows and 19.6 kg/d for indoor cows. The total bacteria count from bedding samples tended to be lower in the outdoor (13.0 log 10 cfu/mL) compared with the indoor (14.9 log 10 cfu/mL) system. Milk revenue and feed cost were not different for the 2 housing systems. Labor and bedding costs were lower and net return was higher for the outdoor housing system. The outdoor straw pack system had a $1.42/cow per day net return advantage over the indoor compost bedded pack barn. In sum-mary, lactating cows housed outdoors on straw-bedded packs did not differ for production or SCS, or for body weight, BCS, or dry matter intake, but had greater profitability than cows housed in an indoor compost bedded pack barn.

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

“…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 ].…”

Effects of winter housing system on hygiene, udder health, frostbite, and rumination of dairy cows

“…During the study, the Midwestern United States experienced one of the coldest winter seasons on record. The average temperature at the WCROC dairy ranged from −14.4 to 8.9°C (Heins et al, 2019).…”

“…During cold weather, all cows were post-dipped with an approved chlorhexidine powder dip that may have caused more chapped teats than expected during the winter because teats were less conditioned than with a liquid post-dip (Morrill et al, 2019). The absence of a difference between treatments is not surprising, given that both groups were exposed to similar weather and temperatures (Heins et al, 2019)…”

“…Labor and bedding costs were lower and net return was higher for the straw-pack system. The outwintered straw-pack system had a $1.42/cow per day net return advantage over the indoor compost-bedded pack barn (Heins et al, 2019).…”

“…Results for production, profitability, bedding inputs, and environmental conditions are described in thorough detail in Heins et al (2019). During the study, the weather conditions were near normal for the first and third years of the study.…”