Monitoring of the Efficacy of a Bio-hygienization Treatment on the Reduction of the Microbial Load in Cubicles of an Italian Herd

Interuniversity study (Cornell University, Università degli Studi di Milano) on-farm with 140 lactating cows over 360 days in cubicles with separated solids + straw bedding (treated vs. control): reduction of microbial load in bedding, including streptococci (−81.8%), total coliforms (−81.8%), and E. coli (−76.6%) compared to control (P < 0.05 as reported in the contribution), using SOP treatment (SQC 233 formula).

Summary: Field monitoring under real farm conditions on 140 lactating cows (70 treated vs. 70 control) housed in cubicles with separated solids + wheat straw bedding, with repeated sampling over 360 days. The contribution reports a marked reduction in bedding microbiological indicators in the treated group, including −81.8% streptococci, −81.8% total coliforms, and −76.6% E. coli compared to control (P < 0.05 as reported in the contribution).

Bedding microbial load in cubicles is an operational control point for environmental hygiene and microbial pressure from environmental microorganisms. In systems with organic bedding (separated solids + straw), longitudinal microbiological monitoring allows evaluation of management and bio-hygienization strategies.

In this context, the contribution presented at the National Mastitis Council (NMC) 48th Annual Meeting — a peer-reviewed congress with selection by the scientific committee — describes an interuniversity study (Cornell University and Università degli Studi di Milano) aimed at evaluating an SOP bio-hygienization strategy (SQC 233 formula, included in products such as SOP EASYCOW, SOP STAR COW, SOP GOLD PRO COW) under real farm conditions.

The study involved 140 lactating cows, divided into two homogeneous groups of 70 animals each (SOP-treated vs. control), housed in cubicles with bedding of separated solids + chopped wheat straw, with weekly bedding renewal. Microbiological sampling was conducted over 360 days (July 2007 – July 2008), with samples taken every 20 days, as reported in the contribution.

The results indicate a significant reduction in microbial load in the treated bedding compared to control, with the following values (statistical significance reported P < 0.05):

• Total Bacterial Count (TBC): −30.9%

• Streptococci: −81.8%

• Total coliforms: −81.8%

• E. coli: −76.6%

Overall, the study highlights that continuous SOP bio-hygienization intervention, monitored over time, can produce measurable reductions in bedding microbiological indicators, with potential operational implications for environmental hygiene in the barn.