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Comparison of environment quality measurements between 3 types of calf housing in the United Kingdom

Mahendran, Sophie; Blackie, nicola; wathes, claire; booth, richard

Authors

Sophie Mahendran

nicola Blackie

claire wathes

richard booth



Abstract

Pre-weaned calves are kept in a range of housing types which offer variable protection against the weather and provide differing internal environments. This cross-sectional observational study assessed the influence of housing type (shed, polytunnel or hutches) on internal environmental parameters, using two blocks of 8-week measurements from ten commercial dairy farms in the South of England, covering both summer and winter periods. Continuous measurements for internal and external temperature and humidity were recorded by data logger placed within the calf housing, and used to calculate the Temperature-Humidity Index (THI). Weekly point readings were also taken for temperature, humidity, light, air speed, ammonia and airborne particulate matter. Airborne bacterial levels were determined at weeks 2, 5 and 8 by incubating air samples at 35oC for 24 hours in aerobic conditions. Data were analysed using linear mixed models. Housing type influenced THI significantly (P<0.01) in both seasons. In summer, calves were exposed to heat stress conditions (THI ≥72) for 39, 31 and 14 /46 days in polytunnel housing, hutches and sheds respectively. The maximum summer temperature (37.0oC) was recorded within both hutch and polytunnel housing, with sheds remaining consistently cooler (maximum 31.0oC). In winter, the lowest minimum internal temperature recorded was in hutches at -4.5oC, with both the sheds and polytunnel, but not hutches, providing a significant increase in temperature compared to the external environment (P<0.01). Hutches remained ≤10oC for 86% of the winter study period. Light levels were reduced in all housing types compared to the external environment. The particulate matter in air that is capable of reaching the lungs (PM10) was highest in sheds, intermediate in hutches and lowest in the polytunnel (0.97±3.75 mg/m3, 0.37±0.44 mg/m3 and 0.20±0.24 mg/m3, respectively, P=0.052). This was mirrored by airborne bacterial numbers, which were also highest in sheds (8,017±2,141 cfu/m3), intermediate in hutches (6,870±2,084 cfu/m3) and lowest in the polytunnel (3,357±2,572 cfu/m3, P = 0.034). Round white catalase (+ve) and oxidase (-ve) colonies were most prevalent, likely indicating Staphylococcus species. This study demonstrated that UK calves are routinely exposed to either heat or cold stress, especially when housed in hutches or polytunnels. Sheds had highest levels of particulate matter and airborne bacteria, both known contributory factors for respiratory disease. These findings demonstrate that all calf housing systems result in environmental compromises that could have long term impacts on calf health and growth, and therefore further studies should identify husbandry and housing modifications to mitigate these factors.

Citation

Mahendran, S., Blackie, N., wathes, C., & booth, R. (in press). Comparison of environment quality measurements between 3 types of calf housing in the United Kingdom. Journal of Dairy Science, https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2022-22613

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Oct 24, 2022
Online Publication Date Feb 14, 2023
Deposit Date Aug 2, 2022
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Print ISSN 0022-0302
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
DOI https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2022-22613

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