Microbial Populations of Teat Ends of Dairy Cows, and Bedding Materials

Abstract

Abstract The relationship between total coliform, klebsiella, streptococcal, and staphylococcal populations of common bedding materials and the organisms recoverable from the teat ends was investigated. Effects of sawdust, wood shavings, and wheat straw as bedding materials were studied in a 9 wk trial of Latin square design in which each of three five-cow groups was bedded for 3 wk on each of the beddings. Cows bedded on sawdust had greatest teat end populations of total coliforms and klebsiella. Streptococci were most numerous on straw-bedded cows. Staphylococci were more numerous on straw- and sawdust-bedded cows than on those bedded on shavings. These differences appeared to be related in a general way to bacterial populations in the beddings. Estimates of bacterial populations of both fresh and used beddings revealed differences among beddings. Differences among teat-swab counts of cow groups and among experimental periods indicated the importance of individual cow factors and uncontrolled environmental factors on teat end bacteria.