A survey of Italian compost dairy barns

• DOI: 10.4081/jae.2013.e17
• Publication Date: 2013-12-20T03:51:03Z
• Authors: Lorenzo Leso; Maurizio Uberti; Wasseem Morshed; Matteo Barbari
• Keywords: 2. Zero hunger; Compost-bedded pack; Compost barn; S; Agriculture (General); Dairy cows; Compost-bedded pack, Dairy cows, Loose housing system, management; Agriculture; 02 engineering and technology; 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences; S1-972; Compost-bedded pack; Dairy cows; Loose housing system; Loose housing system; Compost barn, Dairy cows; 0404 agricultural biotechnology; Settore AGR/10 - Costruzioni Rurali E Territorio Agroforestale; compost-bedded pack, dairy cows, loose housing system, management.; Compost barn; Dairy cows; 0210 nano-technology; management

Compost-bedded pack barns (CBPB), generally known as compost dairy barns, are alternative housing systems for cows. In these the whole surface of resting area is covered with a deepbedded that frequently stirred in order to incorporate fresh manure into and enhance evaporation water. Experiences CBPB cows reported literature from US, Israel, Netherlands Austria. Potential advantages regard animal welfare management. Since 2006, this system has been widely applied Italy. However, there still little scientific knowledge available about Italian CBPB. This study aims describe system, assess producers’ satisfaction measure performance housed Ten commercial farms northern Italy were involved study. All pens each farm surveyed determine total area, bedded depth. A questionnaire was submitted manager investigate management practices, labour requirement, amount bedding materials used satisfaction. The temperature measured summer winter. Data Dairy Association collected herd over period one year (from September 2011 2012). study, average 10.9 m<sup>2</sup>/cow 6.7 m<sup>2</sup>/cow. aerated 1.4 times per day.The most commonly material dry sawdust. consumption 8.1 m<sup>3</sup>/cow year. tendency towards inverse correlation found between space cow needed (R<sup>2</sup>=0.395; P=0.051). Operations related required 4.1 hours direct relationship annual (R<sup>2</sup>=0.505; P=0.048). Although some concerns raised cost ease management, producers satisfied system.