Bedding choice is a crucial factor in both cow comfort and udder health, and dairy farms in the Midwest are increasingly turning to recycled manure solids (RMS) as a cost-effective and readily available option. But because RMS originates from manure, questions remain about whether it can harbor mastitis-causing bacteria or other pathogens. A new cross-sectional study in JDS Communications, published by Elsevier, explores how different processing methods affect pathogen levels, giving producers clearer insight into the benefits and limitations of RMS bedding.
“Recycled manure solids, obtained by separating the solids and liquids from manure slurry with and without further steps, are increasingly popular as bedding because they are comfortable for cows, economical, widely available, and support circular waste management systems that can help farms boost sustainability,” explained Felipe Peña-Mosca, DVM, MSc, PhD, postdoctoral associate at Cornell University (Ithaca, NY) and lead author on the study. “But questions remain about their potential to harbor bacteria that affect udder health and spread pathogens when RMS are shared between farms.”