A tank milk cell count of 300 at 150 lactating cows costs more than €20.000 in milk production loss on an annual basis, according to the UGent calculation tool. Many livestock farmers underestimate the cost of such a somatic cell count and do not always take action.
Wilbert Karsten, forage specialist at Berg Fourage, sees this with regret, because he believes the solution is often simple. ''A different box litter makes a world of difference. Especially as soon as farmers switch to a lime or mineral litter, we regularly see significant cell count drops.''
Lime and mineral litters inhibit bacterial growth
Stall litter is used in every Dutch cubicle barn. That varies from small packets of sawdust to ready-to-use mixed litter. Where animal health is given the highest priority today and prices for flax and sawdust, among other things, are skyrocketing, the market for lime and mineral litter is growing. And that's not for nothing. This type of bedding keeps cubicles drier and helps to inhibit bacterial growth. And that often results in a lower tank cell count.
Test on the sum: 100 points decrease
Dairy farmer Joris van Kempen put it to the test himself a year ago. To see the effect of a clay mineral-based litter, he split his litter usage into two. In one half of his stable he continued to spread as he always did. In the other half he started with Berg Fourage's BeddingFX. Successfully. ''Actually after a week we already saw that the cell count of the group on FX minerals was decreasing enormously. After two weeks we decided to convert the entire barn. And after a month you saw that the tank cell count had dropped by more than 100 points.'' Watch the video with Van Kempen's entire story here.
'Easy first step to tackle high cell count'
Van Kempen's experience is no exception. As a forage specialist, Wilbert Kartsen speaks to many farmers every week and is closely involved in the development and advice of this type of bedding. ''We have seen the effect of good stable litter at Berg Fourage for some time,'' says Karsten. This applies to variants such as straw lime en flax alternative-lime and certainly also for the relatively new variants with FX Minerals. These litters have a high pH value, can absorb an above-average amount of moisture and remain well in the boxes. And we simply see that hygienic, dry and comfortable berths very often lead to a significant drop in somatic cell count. And the bedding has to be done anyway, so I think this is an easy first step to tackle a high somatic cell count.''
Less udder inflammation, more milk
Livestock farmers are also positive about the effect of lime and mineral litter across the border. Wiljan Meilink from Hoogstede, Germany, sees an improvement in udder health not only in his own herd, but also in fellow dairy farmers since the switch to flax or straw lime. ''We used to spread separated manure and now we have been spreading a lime mixture for almost three years,'' says Meilink. ''Since we switched, our cell count has dropped from 180 to around 100 and we suffer less from udder infections. And that in turn ensures that we can ultimately deliver more milk.” Watch the video with Meilink's entire story here.
Calculate milk production loss
You can calculate the production loss yourself on the basis of your somatic cell count this tool from Ghent University.
Learn more
Would you like to know more about litter that can help reduce the tank cell count on your farm? Berg Fourage's forage specialists are happy to think along with you without obligation.
T: 0341-768222
M: sales@bergfourage.nl
W: www.bergfourage.nl