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

Multi-institutional study (Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Cornell University, Università degli Studi di Milano) on cubicles with mats, with biweekly surface sampling of treated vs. control areas, using SOP treatment (SQC 233 formula).

Summary: Microbiological monitoring under real-world conditions on cubicles with synthetic mats, with biweekly sampling (February–June 2009). During the observed period, treated surfaces showed a reduction in microbial load compared to control:

• Total bacterial count (TBC): −36.9%

• Streptococci: −47.5%

• Enterobacteriaceae/coliforms: −48.71%

• E. coli: −30.80% (P < 0.05 as reported in the contribution)

The microbial load on cubicle surfaces represents an operational indicator of environmental hygiene in the barn and can influence the overall microbial exposure of the animals. Synthetic-mat cubicles, widespread in many production systems, require management strategies to maintain a favorable hygienic profile over time.

In this context, the contribution presented at the National Mastitis Council (NMC) 49th Annual Meeting — a peer-reviewed congress with selection by the scientific committee — describes a multi-institutional study (Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Cornell University, and Università degli Studi di Milano) aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of an SOP bio-hygienization treatment (SQC 233 formula, included in products such as SOP EASYCOW, SOP STAR COW, SOP GOLD PRO COW) in reducing microbial load on cubicles with synthetic mats.

The study was conducted on a group of 40 dairy cows, divided into two homogeneous groups of 20 cows each (treated area vs. control area), with biweekly microbiological sampling from February to June 2009. Surface sampling of the cubicles showed that, in the treated group compared to control, the main microbiological indicators were reduced, with statistical significance P < 0.05 as reported in the contribution.

Main results (cubicle surfaces, treated vs. control):

• Total Bacterial Count (TBC): −36.9%

• Streptococci: −47.5%

• Enterobacteriaceae/coliforms: −48.71%

• E. coli: −30.80%

• Significance reported: P < 0.05

Overall, the study highlights the relevance of bio-hygienization interventions as an operational tool to support environmental hygiene in the barn, providing objective measurements on microbiological indicators under real-world conditions.