Evaluation of the Efficacy of a Litter Additive in the Control of Staphylococcus spp. and Coliform Levels: Preliminary Results of a Field Trial on Organic Chianina Beef Cattle

Field study at the University of Perugia on organic Chianina beef cattle: reduction in bedding of Staphylococcus spp. (−36.78%) and coliforms (−49.79%) in treated areas compared to control, as reported in the contribution.

Summary: Field trial on Chianina beef cattle under organic livestock management, comparing treated bedding areas with control areas. The contribution reports reductions in bedding microbiological indicators in the treated areas: −36.78% Staphylococcus spp. and −49.79% coliforms compared to control.

In beef cattle production, hygienic management of bedding is an operational tool to reduce environmental microbial pressure, particularly relevant in organic systems where prevention and good housing practices are central. Microbiological indicators such as Staphylococcus spp. and coliforms are frequently used to monitor the hygienic quality of farm matrices and the effectiveness of management strategies.

In this context, the contribution presented at the 4th World Italian Beef Cattle Congress — a peer-reviewed congress with selection by the scientific committee — describes a field trial conducted by the University of Perugia (coordinated by Prof.ssa Tacconi), aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of an SOP additive (SQC 233 formula, included in products such as SOP EASYCOW, SOP STAR COW, SOP GOLD PRO COW) in reducing Staphylococcus spp. and coliforms in bedding compared to untreated control areas.

The study was conducted on Chianina beef cattle under organic livestock management, comparing SOP-treated bedding areas with untreated control areas. The contribution reports that, compared to control, the treated bedding showed:

• Staphylococcus spp.: −36.78%

• Coliforms: −49.79%

Overall, the study highlights the relevance of hygienic bedding management interventions as an operational tool to support environmental quality in barns, even in beef cattle production systems, with objective measurements on microbiological indicators.