Bedding Strategies that Promote Udder Health and Milk Quality by Fostering a Beneficial Microbiome on Organic Farms
Project Director
John Barlow
Year Funded
2018
Award Number
2018-51300-28561
Funded Institution
University of Vermont
Grant Program
OREI (Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative)
USDA NIFA Report (alternate)
Project Overview
Mastitis – udder infections usually caused by Staphylococcus spp. or Streptococcus uberis – reduces milk production and quality. This project aimed to identify bedding and winter housing practices that reduce mastitis risks in organic dairies. Researchers surveyed 145 Vermont organic dairies, then selected 21 (including 5 using bedded pack, 6 free-stall, and 10 tie-stall systems) for an observational study of management practices and mastitis incidence. Five tie-stall and 5 bedded pack farms enrolled in an intensive microbiome study of teat swab, udder quarter milk, bulk tank milk (BTM), and bedding samples collected over time to analyze for mastitis pathogens, pathogen-suppressive organisms, and microbial community composition.
Milk somatic cell count (SCC), mastitis incidence, and mastitis pathogen counts did not differ among bedded pack, free-stall, and tie-stall dairies. Across the three systems, udder health and BTM quality improved with deeper bedding and with good hygiene that keeps cows clean, dry, and comfortable.
Bedding material, depth, temperature, and management (amounts added, tilled versus undisturbed) modulate bedding microbiomes. Some isolates of Bacillus and Paenbacillus from teat skin swabs were found to inhibit the growth of the mastitis pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. More research is needed to develop practical applications of these findings.
Farmer Takeaways
(1) Bedded pack winter housing systems do not increase mastitis risks.
(2) Maintaining adequate depth of bedding and good overall hygiene that keeps cows clean, dry, and comfortable reduces mastitis risks and improves milk quality.
(3) Wearing clean disposable gloves for milking reduces mastitis risk.
(4) Ongoing research into bedding practices that build a beneficial microbiome and suppress mastitis pathogens aims to develop practical animal health guidelines for organic dairies.
Project Outputs
Jeffrey, C. E., Adkins, P. R. F., Dufour, S., & Barlow, J. W. 2025. “Staphylococci and mammaliicocci: Which species are important for udder health on organic dairy farms?” Journal of Dairy Science, 108(2), 1807–1823.
Jeffrey, C. E., Andrews, T., Godden, S. M., Neher, D. A., & Barlow, J. W. 2024. “Relationship between facility type and bulk tank milk bacteriology, udder health, udder hygiene, and milk production on Vermont organic dairy farms.” Journal of Dairy Science, 107(10), 8534–8553.
Neher, D. A., Andrews, T. D., Weicht, T. R., Hurd, A., & Barlow, J. W. 2022. “Organic Farm Bedded Pack System Microbiomes: A Case Study with Comparisons to Similar and Different Bedded Packs.” Dairy, 3(3), 587–607.
Andrews, T., Jeffrey, C. E., Gilker, R. E., Neher, D. A., & Barlow, J. W. 2021. “Design and implementation of a survey quantifying winter housing and bedding types used on Vermont organic dairy farms.” Journal of Dairy Science, 104(7), 8326–8337.