Comparison of environment quality measurements between 3 types of calf housing in the United Kingdom
ABSTRACT: Preweaning calves are kept in a range of housing types that offer variable protection against the weather and provide differing internal environments. This cross-sectional observational study assessed the effect of housing type (shed, polytunnel, or hutches) on internal environmental param...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Dairy Science |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030223000553 |
| _version_ | 1827975301940903936 |
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| author | Sophie A. Mahendran Nicola Blackie D. Claire Wathes Richard E. Booth |
| author_facet | Sophie A. Mahendran Nicola Blackie D. Claire Wathes Richard E. Booth |
| author_sort | Sophie A. Mahendran |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT: Preweaning calves are kept in a range of housing types that offer variable protection against the weather and provide differing internal environments. This cross-sectional observational study assessed the effect of housing type (shed, polytunnel, or hutches) on internal environmental parameters, using 2 blocks of 8-wk measurements from 10 commercial dairy farms in the south of England, covering both summer and winter periods. Continuous measurements for internal and external temperature and humidity were recorded by data logger placed within the calf housing and used to calculate the temperature-humidity index (THI). Weekly point readings were also taken for temperature, humidity, light, air speed, ammonia level, and airborne particulate matter. Airborne bacterial levels were determined at wk 2, 5, and 8 by incubating air samples at 35°C for 24 h in aerobic conditions. Data were analyzed using linear mixed models. Housing type influenced THI significantly in both seasons. In summer, calves were exposed to heat stress conditions (THI ≥72) for 39, 31, and 14 of 46 d in polytunnel housing, hutches, and sheds, respectively. The maximum summer temperature (37.0°C) was recorded in both hutch and polytunnel housing, with sheds remaining consistently cooler (maximum 31.0°C). In winter, the lowest minimum internal temperature recorded was in hutches at −4.5°C, with both the sheds and polytunnel, but not hutches, providing a significant increase in temperature compared with the external environment. Hutches remained ≤ 10°C for 86% of the winter study period. Light levels were reduced in all housing types compared with the external environment. The particulate matter in air that is capable of reaching the lungs (particulate matter <10 μm) was highest in sheds, intermediate in hutches, and lowest in polytunnel housing (0.97 ± 3.75, 0.37 ± 0.44, and 0.20 ± 0.24 mg/m3, respectively). This was mirrored by airborne bacterial numbers, which were also highest in sheds (8,017 ± 2,141 cfu/m3), intermediate in hutches (6,870 ± 2,084 cfu/m3), and lowest in the polytunnel (3,357 ± 2,572 cfu/m3). Round, white, catalase-positive, and oxidase-negative colonies were most prevalent, likely indicating Staphylococcus species. This study demonstrated that UK calves are routinely exposed to either heat or cold stress, especially when housed in hutches or polytunnels. Sheds had the highest levels of particulate matter and airborne bacteria, both known contributory factors for respiratory disease. These findings demonstrate that all calf housing systems result in environmental compromises that could have long-term impacts on calf health and growth; therefore, further studies should identify husbandry and housing modifications to mitigate these factors. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T20:09:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1075f158f1a040dcbae70d2787a39d60 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0022-0302 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T20:09:25Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Dairy Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-1075f158f1a040dcbae70d2787a39d602023-04-01T08:40:55ZengElsevierJournal of Dairy Science0022-03022023-04-01106424612474Comparison of environment quality measurements between 3 types of calf housing in the United KingdomSophie A. Mahendran0Nicola Blackie1D. Claire Wathes2Richard E. Booth3Corresponding author; Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA United KingdomPathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA United KingdomPathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA United KingdomPathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA United KingdomABSTRACT: Preweaning calves are kept in a range of housing types that offer variable protection against the weather and provide differing internal environments. This cross-sectional observational study assessed the effect of housing type (shed, polytunnel, or hutches) on internal environmental parameters, using 2 blocks of 8-wk measurements from 10 commercial dairy farms in the south of England, covering both summer and winter periods. Continuous measurements for internal and external temperature and humidity were recorded by data logger placed within the calf housing and used to calculate the temperature-humidity index (THI). Weekly point readings were also taken for temperature, humidity, light, air speed, ammonia level, and airborne particulate matter. Airborne bacterial levels were determined at wk 2, 5, and 8 by incubating air samples at 35°C for 24 h in aerobic conditions. Data were analyzed using linear mixed models. Housing type influenced THI significantly in both seasons. In summer, calves were exposed to heat stress conditions (THI ≥72) for 39, 31, and 14 of 46 d in polytunnel housing, hutches, and sheds, respectively. The maximum summer temperature (37.0°C) was recorded in both hutch and polytunnel housing, with sheds remaining consistently cooler (maximum 31.0°C). In winter, the lowest minimum internal temperature recorded was in hutches at −4.5°C, with both the sheds and polytunnel, but not hutches, providing a significant increase in temperature compared with the external environment. Hutches remained ≤ 10°C for 86% of the winter study period. Light levels were reduced in all housing types compared with the external environment. The particulate matter in air that is capable of reaching the lungs (particulate matter <10 μm) was highest in sheds, intermediate in hutches, and lowest in polytunnel housing (0.97 ± 3.75, 0.37 ± 0.44, and 0.20 ± 0.24 mg/m3, respectively). This was mirrored by airborne bacterial numbers, which were also highest in sheds (8,017 ± 2,141 cfu/m3), intermediate in hutches (6,870 ± 2,084 cfu/m3), and lowest in the polytunnel (3,357 ± 2,572 cfu/m3). Round, white, catalase-positive, and oxidase-negative colonies were most prevalent, likely indicating Staphylococcus species. This study demonstrated that UK calves are routinely exposed to either heat or cold stress, especially when housed in hutches or polytunnels. Sheds had the highest levels of particulate matter and airborne bacteria, both known contributory factors for respiratory disease. These findings demonstrate that all calf housing systems result in environmental compromises that could have long-term impacts on calf health and growth; therefore, further studies should identify husbandry and housing modifications to mitigate these factors.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030223000553calfhousingenvironmenttemperaturehumidity |
| spellingShingle | Sophie A. Mahendran Nicola Blackie D. Claire Wathes Richard E. Booth Comparison of environment quality measurements between 3 types of calf housing in the United Kingdom Journal of Dairy Science calf housing environment temperature humidity |
| title | Comparison of environment quality measurements between 3 types of calf housing in the United Kingdom |
| title_full | Comparison of environment quality measurements between 3 types of calf housing in the United Kingdom |
| title_fullStr | Comparison of environment quality measurements between 3 types of calf housing in the United Kingdom |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparison of environment quality measurements between 3 types of calf housing in the United Kingdom |
| title_short | Comparison of environment quality measurements between 3 types of calf housing in the United Kingdom |
| title_sort | comparison of environment quality measurements between 3 types of calf housing in the united kingdom |
| topic | calf housing environment temperature humidity |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030223000553 |
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