Fewer cases of mastitis due to bedding with straw-lime

Adding lime to litter can create a less favorable environment for bacterial growth, significantly reducing the risk of mastitis, according to research by livestock students from Aeres University of Applied Sciences in Dronten. Commissioned by Berg Fourage, they conducted research into the percentage reduction in mastitis cases among farmers who switched to straw-lime litter, over the period of one year.

This is a quantitative study by students of Aeres Hogeschool on the percentage reduction of mastitis cases after the use of straw-lime products, commissioned by Berg. Over 5.500 cows were part of the study.

In the cubicle house, dairy cows lie down for about twenty hours a day. The teat ends come into contact with bedding that can be contaminated with bacteria, which can lead to mastitis. The economic consequences of mastitis are considerable and lead to financial losses for dairy farmers. The damage caused by clinical and subclinical mastitis causes the cattle sector in the Netherlands more than €100 million in damage annually. Various factors influence the occurrence of mastitis, including the provision of hygienic bedding.

Product specialist Henry Westerink speaks of three important causes that he often sees in practice: "Moisture, temperature and organic matter play a huge role in bacterial growth in the boxes. An example of this is dairy farm Kuijer from Soest, which switched from separated manure to flax alternative premium plusIt went from twenty annual mastitis cases on approximately sixty dairy cows to, very recently, the first mild case since November 2023. The step from separated manure to a lime mixture turned out to be the solution."

Role of lime products in mastitis cases
In concrete terms, the research showed that there was an average reduction of 47% in the number of clinical mastitis cases. The number of subclinical mastitis cases was also reduced by an average of 40,2%. The respondents were dairy farmers from the Netherlands and Germany who switched from box litter to a mixture of straw and lime from Berg at least one year ago.

Limit bacterial growth with these tips
Interpretation of the results shows that lime increases pH and reduces moisture content, thereby reducing teat exposure to environmental pathogens such as coliform and Klebsiella spp mastitis bacteria by limiting bacterial growth.

The research suggests a potential decrease in mastitis cases by switching to a straw-lime mixture. Product specialist Henry Westerink confirms the need for a moisture-free cubicle by adding a straw-lime mixture: "We have noticed that litter should not be wetter than 60% dry matter, preferably a lot drier. That is why we supply customised products with more/less lime. It is also possible to leave out water from the mixture or even add sunflower husk pellets as a moisture absorber. In this way we create an ideal bedding for every company that fits the stable climate."

"We supply customized products with more/less lime. It is also possible to leave out water from the mixture or even sunflower husk pellets as a moisture absorber. In this way we create an ideal bedding for every company that fits the stable climate," says product specialist Henry Westerink

About mastitis
In livestock farming, we know two types of mastitis. Clinical and subclinical mastitis. Clinical mastitis is visually recognizable by inflammation of the udder or changes in milk characteristics, while subclinical mastitis is not visually visible but can be detected by a sudden increase in the number of somatic cells in the milk. Prevention of mastitis is crucial and early detection allows for effective treatment with antibiotics.

The use of different bedding materials, such as separated manure or straw-lime mixtures, can influence udder health by reducing bacterial growth in the cows' resting area.

Research design
The research method involves interviewing dairy farmers in the Netherlands and Germany who switched from another box litter to a mixture of straw and lime from Berg Fourage at least one year ago. 25 farmers with a total of more than 5.500 cows participated in the quantitative research with a reliability of 85% and a margin of error of 14%. Before switching, farmers mainly used sawdust, separated manure and straw in the boxes.

Advice for custom mixture?
There is no such thing as an average litter for every farmer. Berg Fourage believes in the importance of personal needs and responds to this with custom mixtures that suit your company. Curious about what we can do for you? Then make an appointment for a no-obligation consultation with our advisors who are specialized in cubicle hygiene and udder health.

Contact Berg Fourage on 0341-768222 or email sales@bergfourage.nl

_{Source: 'Percentage reduction in mastitis cases due to straw-lime products' by Thijs Paauw, Gijs Niehof, Oane Tjalma from Aeres University of Applied Sciences Dronten | 17-06-2024}