Optimization and validation of a recycled wood-based bedding to reduce the risk of mastitis in dairy production

Milk quality and cow udder health are priority issues for Canadian dairy producers. The development of new intramammary infections in a dairy herd can be very detrimental to milk production. Indeed, mastitis, an inflammation of the internal tissues of the mammary gland whose main cause is the introduction of bacteria, causes significant economic losses estimated at $400M annually in Canada for the dairy industry. These losses are associated with the release of milk that is unfit for consumption, production and processing losses, high veterinary treatment costs, early culling and mortality of affected animals. The bedding used in livestock establishments can be a major cause of this problem. Indeed, the materials used as bedding are conducive to the propagation of environmental pathogens of microbial origin to which the teat end is exposed.

BRQ Fibre et Broyure Inc. is a Trois-Rivières company specialized in the valorization and grading of residual biomass. Over the past few years, the company has developed a bedding based on recycled wood residues that has very interesting properties for reducing the risk of developing clinical mastitis.

This project will evaluate the effectiveness and performance of various improvements made to the physical properties of recycled wood residue-based bedding that have an impact on reducing the risk of mastitis in dairy herds in Quebec.