Effect of Stalosan F powder application on the improvement of animal welfare in cattle stables

Somatic cell count (SCC) is a main indicator of the quality of the milk. White blood cells known as leukocytes constitute the majority of somatic cells. The number of somatic cells increases as an immune response to the presence of mastitis-causing bacteria and small number of epithelial cells (milk-producing cells). The SCC is quantified as cells per ml of milk. Generally, it is considered less than 100,000 cells/ml for healthy cows and over 250,000 for cows with one or more quarters affected by pathogens. The milk SCC also increases after calving when colostrum is produced.

Digital dermatitis (DD) is an infectious condition of the foot caused by different bacteria such as Treponema, F. necrophorum, D. Nodosus, etc. DD causes painful ulcerations of the cow skin. Moreover, if no action is taken the process is going to be worse. As a result, cows feel pain, lie down, do not eat, loose body weight, decrease the milk production, have abnormal service period and consequently they will be culled.

It is very important to prevent respiratory and intestinal diseases in young calves, because this will significantly reduce the animal performance. In many cases, this can lead to culling or even death. Introduction In 2010 tree Turkish dairy farms, with 3500, 1000 and 970 Holstein cows, were participating in a test showing if improved environment and welfare in the barns is going to reduce high somatic cell count, locomotion score and contagious disease in calves. For this purpose a well-known powder product called Stalosan F, produced by Vilofoss group, was used.