Udder Hygiene and Mastitis Indicators in Contrasting Environmental Conditions during Half-Time Confinement in Pasture-Based Dairy Systems

This study aimed to compare the association between two types of housing, compost barns (CB) vs. outdoor soil-bedded yard (OD), and udder hygiene and mastitis indicators in Holstein dairy cows calving in autumn (n = 31) and spring (n = 27). After calving, cows were transferred to a pasture-based sys...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Medina, Graciana, Damián Cabrera, Juan Pablo, Meikle, Ana, Chilibroste, Pablo, Bentancur, Oscar, Adrien Delgado, María de Lourdes
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2023
País:Uruguay
Institución:Universidad de la República
Repositorio:COLIBRI
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:colibri.udelar.edu.uy:20.500.12008/48232
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12008/48232
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13091544
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:PRODUCCION LECHERA
MASTITIS BOVINA
CONFINAMIENTO
COMPOST BARN
VACAS LECHERAS
HOLSTEIN
Descripción
Sumario:This study aimed to compare the association between two types of housing, compost barns (CB) vs. outdoor soil-bedded yard (OD), and udder hygiene and mastitis indicators in Holstein dairy cows calving in autumn (n = 31) and spring (n = 27). After calving, cows were transferred to a pasture-based system with half-time confinement in one of two treatments: CB or OD. The udder hygiene score (UHS) was evaluated monthly and on days after rainfall over the entire lactation period. Individual somatic cell count (SCC) was determined throughout lactation, and the prevalence of intramammary infection (IMI) was estimated. Cows confined in OD presented higher UHS compared to cows in CB (p < 0.05) in both calving seasons. After rains, autumn-calving cows in OD were dirtier than on days without previous rain (OR = 1.85, CI 95%: 1.1–3.1; p < 0.02). However, no differences in IMI and clinical mastitis were found between OD and CB cows in either calving season.