Physicochemical Bedding Quality in Compost-Bedded Pack Barn Systems for Dairy Cows: A Systematic Review

Abstract

In this study, a systematic review was performed to describe and discuss the main results available in the literature on physicochemical bedding quality in compost-bedded pack barn (CBP) systems for dairy cows. Experimental peer-reviewed articles in English were searched in the Scopus (ScP) and Web of Science (WoS) databases. The resulting articles (n = 162) underwent an evaluation process in four stages, following the PRISMA methodology and, based on a priori-defined eligibility criteria, 12 were selected. Several indicators of bedding quality were used, emphasizing bedding temperature in the aerobically active layer, evaluated in all studies. The decomposition activity was less intense in winter due to mild environmental conditions. During this period, appropriate management practices should be used (more frequent bedding replacement and turning, use of aeration systems under the bedding, lateral closures in the facilities, etc.) to maintain the fully active composting process. In conclusion, the physicochemical bedding quality in this system type is mainly affected by environmental conditions. However, some care is needed to extrapolate these results since this is a recent research area, which still requires further studies.

Understanding Compost-Bedded Pack Barn Systems in Tropical Climate Regions: A Review of the Current State-of-the-Art

“…According to the authors, evaporation and ventilation cool and dry the surface of the bed of a CBP facility, causing the surface temperature level of the bed to be close to the ambient temperature. The larger the number of cows and, consequently, the larger the amount of feces and urine, the higher the need to expand the bedding area per animal so that microbial activity and surface drying are balanced according to the daily amount of deposited manure [11,32].…”

“…According to Klaas et al [14], the compost removed from a facility can be directly spread on the fields, when necessary, and the transport costs are lower than those of liquid manure from other types of facilities. In open and closed CBP systems, additional benefits include the use of composted material to store animal waste, and the possibility of marketing the material to generate additional income for the farm [32,36,38]. In the traditional confinement systems for dairy cattle (free stall and tie stall), manure management represents a growing challenge for producers, requiring high investment in systems for the proper treatment of waste.…”

Factors Influencing Milk Quality and Subclinical Mastitis in Dairy Herds Housed in Compost-Bedded Pack Barn System

“…The most significant challenge in a CBPB is to manage the bedding in extreme conditions, such as during rainy and humid winters, where microbial activity is lower, due to microclimatic conditions, affecting the quality of the bedding [13] and consequently impacting animal health and milk quality. The research problem was to provide information on how bedding characteristics can affect cow udder health and milk quality.…”