Compost bedded pack barn
A compost bedded pack barn (CBP) is a type of housing for dairy cattle. It is a loose housing system, similar to free-stall housing, except there are no stalls or partitions.[1][2]
In a CBP, the resting and exercise areas of the cows are combined, resulting in reduced ammonia emissions, lower building costs, and increased cow movement.[1] For these systems to be successful, they must be managed very closely. They requires tilling with a roto-tiller or deep-tillage tool to incorporate the manure, urine, and air into the pack and allow it to dry.[1] The composting process allows the manure and urine to be stored for months at a time, while also supplying a bedding and exercise area for cows.[1]
Compost bedded pack barns are a fairly new system for housing dairy cattle, and are appealing to producers due to the lower instances of lameness and hock lesions.[3] They also improve cow comfort, as the cows are not restricted in their lying behavior from stall size and partitions that are typically found in free-stall housing systems.[3]
Compost bedded pack barns are typically bedded with wood shavings/sawdust, or other organic materials that are compostable.[3]
For the composting process to work in a CBP, the internal temperature of the pack must be maintained at approximately 43.3–65.0 °C (109.9–149.0 °F) and have a moisture content at approximately 40–60%.[1] The lower end of the temperature range is compatible with cellulose degradation, which is needed to break down the wood shavings/sawdust that is typically used.[4] The higher end of the temperature range is compatible with pathogen destruction, which helps destroy mastitis-causing bacteria.[4]
The first CBP in the US was built in 2001 in Minnesota.[3] However, the compost bedded pack system was invented by dairy farmers in Virginia to improve upon the conventional bedded pack system.[4]
The recommended stocking density of a CBP is 7.4 m2/cow (80 sq. feet/cow) for the average Holstein cow.[4] This allows for the proper aeration and absorption of manure and urine by the bedding and still allow the composting process to work.[4]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e Eckelkamp, E.A.; Taraba, J.L.; Akers, K.A.; Harmon, R.J.; Bewley, J.M. (August 2016). "Understanding compost bedded pack barns: Interactions among environmental factors, bedding characteristics, and udder health". Livestock Science. 190: 35–42. doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2016.05.017.
- ^ Galama, P.J.; Ouweltjes, W.; Endres, M.L.; Sprecher, J.R.; Leso, L.; Kuipers, A.; Klopcic, M. "Symposium review: Future of housing for dairy cattle". Journal of Dairy Science. 103: 5746–5758. doi:10.3168/jds.2019-17214. hdl:2158/1195885.
- ^ a b c d Lobeck, K.M.; Endress, M.I.; Shane, E.M.; Godden, S.M.; Fetrow, J. (2011). "Animal welfare in cross-ventilated, compost-bedded pack, and naturally ventilated dairy barns in the upper Midwest". Journal of Dairy Science. 94: 5469–5479. doi:10.3168/jds.2011-4363.
- ^ a b c d e Black, R.A.; Taraba, J.L.; Day, G.B.; Damasceno, F.A.; Bewley, J.M. (2013). "Compost bedded pack barn dairy management, performance, and producer satisfaction". Journal of Dairy Science. 96: 8060–8074. doi:10.3168/jds.2013-6778.