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Unlocking the Secrets of Dairy Microbes: Insights from a Silage Study for Healthier Milk

Uncover the secrets of healthier milk with a Swedish study on silage microbes. Get tips for your dairy farm!

Summary: Research on a Swedish dairy farm has revealed that while different types of silages show minimal differences in microbial communities, the highest similarity to bulk milk microbiota comes from used bedding material rather than feed. This highlights the crucial role of strict bedding hygiene in ensuring clean milk production. Surprisingly, microbial transfer from feed to milk was rarely observed, and although lactic acid bacteria were present in both, they differed at the species level. These findings underscore the importance of maintaining clean bedding materials and proper hygiene practices to enhance milk quality and farm productivity.

  • Maintaining clean bedding is crucial for improving milk quality and preserving farm health.
  • Different silage treatments showed minimal differences in microbial communities.
  • Used bedding material has a higher similarity to bulk milk microbiota compared to feed.
  • Microbial transfer from feed to milk was rarely observed.
  • Lactic acid bacteria present in both feed and milk differed at the species level.
  • Proper hygiene practices and bedding maintenance significantly influence milk microbiota.

Imagine using the power of microbes to improve milk quality on your dairy farm. Exciting results from Swedish research published in the Journal of Dairy Science show that microorganisms in feed and bedding materials significantly influence the bacteria in your bulk milk. This insight may lead to better milk and more effective agricultural techniques. Dairy producers continually look for new ways to increase milk output while maintaining quality standards. Surprising findings from a thorough analysis of microbial communities in silage, bedding materials, and bulk milk on a Swedish dairy farm provide practical insights that might transform your farm.

Who: Researchers at the Röbäcksdalen Research Centre in Umeå, Sweden. 

What: The study explored the effects of different silage treatments on the microbiota of feed, bedding material, and milk. 

When: The experiment was conducted from January to April 2021, following silage production in June and July 2020. 

Where: Röbäcksdalen Research Centre, Umeå, Sweden. 

Why: The goal was to understand how different silage treatments influence milk quality and identify ways to control specific bacteria. 

How: Feed dairy cows with silages produced with different additives and analyze the microbiota in feedstuff, bedding material, and milk over 12 weeks.

Key Findings: The research discovered that the microbiota in silage and partial mixed rations (PMR) were mirrored in used bedding material but seldom transmitted to milk. Surprisingly, milk bacteria closely mirrored the most often used mattress material, suggesting a substantial involvement in environmental contamination. The most excellent average total bacterial counts were identified in used bedding (9.6 log10 cfu/g), whereas milk had the lowest (3.5 log10 cfu/g). Principal coordinate analysis identified three clusters: herbage, silage, and PMR, as well as the utilization of bedding material and milk. Despite predictions, ensiling treatments had no discernible impact on silage microbiota.

Silage Secrets Unveiled: Minimal Microbial Differences and Limited Milk Contamination

ParameterUntreated (UNTR)Acid-treated (ACID)Starter Culture Inoculated (INOC)
pH4.03.94.0
Lactic Acid (g/kg DM)65.568.056.0
Acetic Acid (g/kg DM)18.013.517.0
Butyric Acid (g/kg DM)1.80.10.1
Nitrate (g/kg DM)3.54.41.1
Yeast (log cfu/g)<2.0<2.05.9
Mold (log cfu/g)<2.0<2.0<2.0
Enterobacteriaceae (log cfu/g)<2.0<2.0<2.0
Escherichia coli (log cfu/g)<1.0<1.0<1.0
Aerobic Spore-forming Bacteria (log cfu/g)<3.03.33.7
Butyric Acid Spores (log cfu/g)<1.01.61.3
Metabolizable Energy (MJ/kg DM)11.211.211.0
Organic Matter Digestibility (%)77.077.276.3
Dry Matter (g/kg FM)277306280
Neutral Detergent Fiber (g/kg DM)480457439
Acid Detergent Fiber (g/kg DM)285270275
Crude Fat (g/kg DM)413939
Water-soluble Carbohydrates (g/kg DM)151829
Ash (g/kg DM)776985
Crude Protein (g/kg DM)169172146
Soluble Crude Protein (g/kg CP)670545561
Ammonia-N (g/kg N)1098084

The research looked at three varieties of silage: untreated, acid-treated, and inoculated with a starting culture. Surprisingly, the predicted variations in silage microbiota were not as noticeable, and bacterial transfer from silage to milk was low.

Clean Bedding, Clean Milk: The Key to Enhancing Your Dairy Farm’s Productivity and Health

This research emphasizes the relevance of bedding material management for dairy producers in controlling milk microbiota. Maintaining clean and dry bedding may assist in decreasing environmental contamination and increasing milk quality. Even simple factors, such as the kind and quality of bedding, may influence your herd’s overall health and production since improperly maintained bedding can hold germs that move to the cows’ udders and contaminate raw milk, resulting in elevated somatic cell counts and mastitis. Investing in high-quality bedding and correctly maintaining it may save money over time by decreasing the need for antibiotics and avoiding expensive veterinarian treatments. Following rigorous hygiene protocols for milking, such as washing and disinfecting all milking equipment after each usage, is also critical. The study found that proper sanitation and maintenance may reduce microbial contamination to a minimum, significantly improving raw milk quality in your dairy business.

The Bottom Line

This research examines the influence of several silage treatments on dairy farm microbiota and finds that contrary to predictions, microbial changes amongst silages are negligible. Key findings included a substantial association between bedding material and milk microbiota, indicating that contamination in milk is more likely to be caused by bedding than diet. This emphasizes the critical significance that bedding cleanliness has in reducing milk contamination. Ensuring proper bedding conditions may significantly increase milk purity, which is essential in sustaining excellent milk quality and animal health. The study encourages further research into realistic bedding management strategies to improve dairy farm operations. Dairy producers that prioritize bedding cleanliness may be able to achieve higher milk production standards.

Learn more:

Teat Sealant Residue: What Farmers Need to Know for Healthier Udders and Smoother Milking

Discover how teat sealant excretion post-calving impacts udder health and ease of milking. Are you optimizing your dairy cow treatment for better results?

For dairy producers, maintaining ideal udder health is vital. A healthy udder leads to higher milk outputs, excellent cow health, lower vet expenses, and constant milk quality. Still, elements like mastitis may compromise udder condition.  As we strive to reduce antibiotic usage in cattle, herd management techniques are evolving. Selective dry cow treatment programs are gaining prominence, a superior alternative to blanket dry cow treatments with antibiotics. Based on the cow’s somatic cell count (SCC), these programs utilize internal teat sealants (TS) either with antibiotics or alone. This approach, in line with antibiotic stewardship guidelines, reduces antibiotic consumption and helps maintain udder health, leading to improved milk quality.

Are you seeking to improve the effectiveness of your dairy farm? Discover fresh ideas and keep ahead in environmentally friendly dairy farming.

Revolutionizing Dry Period Management: The Role of Selective Dry Cow Treatment (SDCT) in Modern Dairy Farming 

Maintaining udder health throughout the dry period—when a dairy cow is not lactating—is vital in the dairy business. This time frame helps prevent diseases that can compromise the health of the herd or a cow’s output. Mastitis was historically prevented by antibiotics during drying out (DO). However, more rigid EU rules and issues with antibiotic resistance have resulted in selected dry cow treatment methods (SDCT).

SDCT uses internal teat sealants (TS) alone or with antibiotics based on individual cow infection risks: 

1. High Somatic Cell Count (H-SCC) Cows: Cows with high somatic cell counts (SCC) are prone to infections and are treated with both antibiotics and TS (H-ABTS). Antibiotics treat existing infections, while TS prevents new ones. 

2. Low Somatic Cell Count (L-SCC) Cows: Cows with low SCC, at lower infection risk, receive TS only (L-TS), providing a barrier against pathogens without using antibiotics. 

This method guarantees that high-risk cows receive the required therapy and helps reduce antibiotic consumption. However, its success relies heavily on the vigilance of dairy producers and veterinarians in monitoring SCC levels and udder health. By emphasizing their integral role in optimizing SDCT procedures, dairy producers can feel more involved and committed to maintaining udder health.

Unveiling the Secrets of Teat Sealant Excretion: A Comparative Study of High and Low SCC Dairy Cows Post-Calving

Aiming to expose how internal teat sealants (TS) are expelled after calving and their effect on udder health and milking equipment cleanliness, the research Postpartum excretion of internal teat sealant following selected dry cow treatment of dairy cows intended compared TS excretion in low SCC cows treated alone with TS to TS in high somatic cell count (SCC) cows treated with antibiotics. It also measured how well lab staff members and farmers could find TS residues after milking and calving.

The approach was meticulously crafted for consistent understanding. The research included four German herds and 192 cows from Dutch herds three-wise. While low SCC cows (L-TS, n=99) were treated with TS alone, high SCC cows (H-ABTS, n=93) were given antibiotics and TS.

They collected 50 mL pre-milk samples from every udder quarter during the first 15–16 milkings after calving. This technique permitted a thorough study of T’s visibility, amount, and excretion patterns during the first milkings.

Decoding the Visibility of Teat Sealant Residues in Pre-Milk: Insights from Farmers and Laboratories

Milkings Post-CalvingH-ABTS TS Excretion (%)L-TS TS Excretion (%)
First Milking32%45.5%
Second Milking8.5%4.6%
Third Milking1.8%0.4%

One of the most critical research results is pre-milk teat sealant (TS) residue visibility. Lab staff members and farmers reported TS residue in 72% of quarters during the first milking post-calving. This notable incidence of detection emphasizes the ubiquitous existence of TS residues in the early postpartum period. It also underscores the necessity of careful surveillance and control, making dairy producers feel responsible and proactive in maintaining udder health and milk quality.

The research initially revealed the farmers’ remarkable sensitivity in spotting teat sealant (TS) residues. In 74.5% of the instances, producers found TS remains during the first milking. However, this capacity experienced an apparent fall during the next three milkings, falling to only 8.3% by the final three milkings. This notable decline emphasizes the difficulties and possible discrepancies in identifying TS residues without expert knowledge or a laboratory environment.

The next milkings clearly showed a change in discharge patterns. Compared to cows in the L-TS group (4.6%), cows in the H-ABTS category showed a greater mean adjusted TS percentage excretion (8.5%) during the second milking. H-ABTS cows showed 1.8% TS excretion. In contrast, L-TS cows showed much lower excretion levels at a 0.4% trend until the third milking. This result implies a clear difference in the pace and persistence of TS excretion between the two groups, suggesting that treatment type and somatic cell count category play significant roles in the post-calving excretion dynamics.

The multivariable model outputs identified essential variables affecting the occurrence of teat sealant (TS) residues in the first three milkings. Especially during the first and second milkings, parity became a significant factor, indicating that multiparous cows were more prone to show TS residues. Furthermore, the research group was strongly linked to T’s presence at the second and third milkings, suggesting that the type of cows—whether treated with antibiotics + TS or TS alone—also greatly affected the appearance and excretion patterns of TS post-calving.

Fascinatingly, the univariable model looking at udder health found no correlation between udder health outcomes and teat sealant (TS) residue present during the first milking. This implies that the general state of the cow’s udder is not immediately affected by the first appearance of TS, which is a crucial realization for farmers considering the advantages and drawbacks of TS application.

Empowering Dairy Farmers: Strategic Insights for Managing Teat Sealant Use and Maintaining Udder Health 

Understanding the post-calving teat sealant (TS) excretion for dairy producers is critical to refining their selected dry cow treatment (SDCT) strategies. The fact that TS residues are most noticeable during the first milking post-calving is a crucial insight. This knowledge helps farmers plan to prevent contamination of milking equipment and anticipate cleaning difficulties, thereby maintaining udder health and milk quality. The need for customized hygiene measures is underscored by the increased TS excretion observed in cows treated simply with TS (L-TS) compared to those treated with antibiotics plus TS (H-ABTS).

Farmers may teach employees to recognize and handle TS wastes, particularly in first milkings when residue visibility is maximum. The research indicates that the difference in residue detection between farms and labs closes with time, implying the advantage of rigorous early monitoring followed by consistent but less frequent inspections. Farmers that follow these guidelines may safeguard udder health and follow the rules on antibiotic restrictions, improving animal welfare and milk quality.

The lack of a clear correlation between TS residue presence at the first milking and udder health confirms that well-controlled TS use does not jeopardize the dairy herd’s health. Optimizing SDCT procedures depends on proper training and equipping farm staff to control TS wastes; so, balancing efficient udder health management and operational effectiveness also depends on this.

The Bottom Line

With an eye on post-calving milking practices, the research emphasizes essential aspects of teat sealant (TS) excretion in dairy cows. Significant results reveal a clear bimodal excretion pattern wherein TS remains are more evident during the first milking. Although their udder health was not much affected, L-TS cows had a greater TS excretion rate (45.5%) at the first milking than H-ABTS cows (32%).

These revelations stress farmers’ need to carefully clean milking equipment to prevent residue development. Farmers can identify TS residues well during the first milking, yet their capacity declines in later milkings. This implies that better training or procedural modifications are needed to maintain milk cleanliness.

Knowing that T’s presence does not compromise udder health lets farmers boldly follow chosen dry cow treatment guidelines. This approach guarantees udder health and farm output by supporting effective herd management and antibiotic reduction policies.

Key Takeaways:

  • Internal teat sealants (TS) are being increasingly used in European dairy farms to comply with antibiotic restriction policies and maintain udder health.
  • Post-calving TS residues can attach to milking equipment, making cleaning difficult and deterring some farmers from using TS across all cows.
  • A study across herds in the Netherlands and Germany compared TS excretion in high SCC cows treated with antibiotics and TS (H-ABTS) versus low SCC cows treated with TS only (L-TS).
  • TS residues were visible in 72% of quarters during the first milking, with farmer sensitivity to spot TS dropping significantly after the first milking.
  • The study found a higher percentage of TS excretion in low SCC cows (L-TS) at the first milking compared to high SCC cows (H-ABTS).
  • TS excretion quantities exhibited a bimodal pattern, with greater excretion in multiparous cows and no link to udder health issues at the first milking.
  • Effective management of TS excretion can empower dairy farmers to optimize udder health and enhance milk quality while adhering to antibiotic restrictions.

Summary: Dairy producers need to maintain optimal udder health for higher milk outputs, good cow health, lower vet expenses, and consistent milk quality. Selective dry cow treatment programs (SDCT) are gaining popularity as an alternative to blanket dry cow treatments with antibiotics. These programs, based on the cow’s somatic cell count (SCC), use internal teat sealants (TS) with or without antibiotics. This approach reduces antibiotic consumption and improves milk quality. The success of SDCT relies on the vigilance of dairy producers and veterinarians in monitoring SCC levels and udder health. A study of high and low SCC dairy cows post-calving revealed how internal teat sealants (TS) are expelled and their effect on udder health and milking equipment cleanliness. Customized hygiene measures are necessary, as cows treated with TS had increased TS excretion compared to those treated with antibiotics plus TS. Farmers can teach employees to recognize and handle TS wastes, especially in first milkings. Following these guidelines can safeguard udder health and improve animal welfare and milk quality.

Learn More

Understanding the intricacies of selective dry cow treatment (SDCT) and the use of internal teat sealants (TS) is pivotal for modern dairy farming. As dairy producers navigate these waters, additional resources can provide invaluable guidance. Here are some expert articles from our website that will enhance your knowledge and strategies: 

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