Kentucky Compost-Bedded Pack Barn Project (original) (raw)
Related papers
Compost bedded pack dairy barn management, performance, and producer satisfaction
Journal of dairy science, 2013
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...
Compost Bedded Pack Barn Design: Features and Management Considerations
The compost bedded pack barn is a housing system for lactating dairy cows. It consists of a large, open resting area, usually bedded with sawdust or dry, fine wood shavings and manure composted into place and mechanically stirred on a regular basis. The most critical success factor for managing a compost bedded pack barn is providing a comfortable, dry resting surface for lactating cows at all times. Producer-reported benefits of these barns include improved cow comfort, improved cow cleanliness, low maintenance, improved feet and legs, decreased somatic cell count, increased heat detection, ease of manure handling, increased production, increased longevity, low investment costs, less odor, fewer flies, less concern with cow size, and improved manure value.
Invited review: Compost-bedded pack barns for dairy cows
Journal of Dairy Science, 2020
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.
Review: European compost bedded-pack barns for dairy cows
2019
There is increasing interest in the use of continuous housing systems for dairy cows, with various reasons put forward to advocate such systems. The objective of this review was to examine existing scientific literature assess the main benefits achieved by the Compost bedded-pack barns (CBP) for housing dairy cow throughout Europe. Although summarizing existing work, knowledge gaps and directions for future research are also identified. The scope of the review is broad, examining relevant topics under three main headings: design, bed management, and composting process. Regarding main headings, some European CBP system does not appear to be similar to the US CBP but producers developed different design and management styles to adapt to the several microclimates that exist in each country. CBP systems had benefits for dairy cow behaviour, in terms of grazing and improved lying/resting times. In summary, the results of this review highlight that there are considerable benefits to animal welfare and animal productivity when housed in Compost bedded-pack barns.
Compost Dairy Barn Layout and Management Recommendations
Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 2007
Compost barns are a loose housing system that provides excellent cow comfort for dairy cows. Producer experience with well-managed compost barns in Minnesota has generally been positive. Cows are relatively clean, very comfortable, have fewer lameness problems, and in some cases had lower somatic cell counts (SCC) after moving to a compost barn from tie-stall or freestall barns. Current design and management recommendations are based on dairy producer experiences. Compost barns have a concrete feed alley, a bedded pack resting area that is stirred two times a day, and a 1.2-m (4-ft) high wall surrounding the pack. The wall that separates the pack and feed alley has walkways to allow cow and equipment access to the stirred pack area. The stirred pack is sized to provide a minimum stirred bedded pack area of 7.4 m 2 /cow (80 ft 2 /cow). Producers use dry fine wood shavings or sawdust for bedding. Fresh bedding is added when the bedded pack becomes moist enough to stick to the cows. The pack is stirred (aerated) at least two times each day to a producer recommended depth of 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12 in.). Stirring aerates and mixes manure and urine on the surface into the pack to provide a fresh surface for cows to lie down on. The pack can provide manure storage for 6 to 12 months. Excellent pack management and pre-milking cow preparation procedures are required. Research on compost barns is needed.
Livestock Science, 2016
The objective of this study was to describe relationships among compost bedded pack barn (CBP) measurements (moisture, internal temperature, nutrient content, and bedding bacterial counts), ambient weather conditions, and udder health. Data was collected every 2weeks (n = 25 visits) from 8 Kentucky dairy farms with CBP from May 2013 to May 2014. A single observer scored 50 cows per farm for hygiene and collected compost internal temperature, moisture, and compost samples from 9 evenly distributed areas in each barn. Weighted average somatic cell count (SCC), high SCC prevalence (HSP), and reported clinical mastitis incidence (RCMI) were collected from herd records and milking personnel. Compost internal temperature increased with increasing maximum barn temperature (BT). Compost moisture content decreased with increasing BT. Herd hygiene score decreased with increasing BT and increased with increasing compost moisture content. Herd SCC and HSP both increased with increasing BT but were unaffected by compost measurements. As compost internal temperature increased, staphylococci, streptococci, and bacilli species growth in the pack area decreased and coliform species growth increased. Low CBP moisture and high CBP temperature reduced bacteria levels. Cow hygiene and udder health indicators had a stronger relationship with BT than with CBP internal temperature and moisture.
2018
OF DISSERTATION COMPOST BEDDED PACK DAIRY HOUSING: ANIMAL PERFORMANCE AND WELL-BEING AND ECONOMIC VIABILITY IN A PASTURE-BASED SYSTEM Improving housing for dairy cattle is of interest because hoof and udder health, which are associated with the housing environment, are important economic and welfare issues. The objectives were: 1) to assess the influence of housing––conventional cubicle (CCD) vs compost bedded pack (CBP),––and management (grazing vs semi-grazing) on the performance and welfare in dairy cows 2) describe the performance of the CBP under a grazing or semi-grazing system, and 3) to assess viability of CBP housing in a pasture-based system. This study mixes three research approaches, an analysis of existing and secondary data; an experiment, and a case-study. If taken out of context and used in isolation, this mix of methods would lead to ambiguity and confusion. But in the context of the Malawi dairy industry, it is by mixing these methods that we can best inform farmer...
Animal Health in Compost-Bedded Pack and Cubicle Dairy Barns in Six European Countries
Animals, 2022
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...