Bedding Management and Udder Health

Using good bedding management will increase income from increased milk production, milk quality premiums, reduce treatments of clinical cases and reduced culling because of poor udder health. Lower bacterial loads at the teat end will reduce the incidence of environmental mastitis. In addition, the incidence of hock injuries will be reduced when bedding is managed properly. Just going through the motions of cleaning stalls daily with no attention to bedding management detail will not reduce the exposure of teats to environmental mastitis pathogens. Alley and walkways need scraping at each milking. It is important to not spray manure on the backs of stalls when scraping the alleys, which results in contamination of fresh bedding material. Bedding material must be kept as clean and dry as possible to limit bacterial growth. Organic bedding material should be changed daily to limit the growth of bacteria in the stall, which will reduce the possibility of udder infections with environmental pathogens. Certain organic bedding materials (sunflower hulls, straw, corn stalks, grain hulls, or hard wood) can support the growth of large populations of environmental mastitis pathogens because of the large amounts of available nutrients. Particle size is an important consideration when using organic bedding materials. It is also important to use larger particulate material as possible, since these materials do not support the growth of bacteria as readily as fine particulate material. Sand remains the most comfortable and sanitary bedding material, if properly maintained. Proper maintenance means leveling the sand surface for cow comfort. Do not till the sand as it brings bacteria to the surface that will expose the udder to environmental mastitis causing agents. If sand is to be washed it must be washed with clean water. Enough water should be used to remove all the organic material present.