Compost en ander strooisel in ligboxen voor melkvee = Compost and other bedding material in cubicle housing for dairy cow

In 2011 cubicle housing with different bedding material were assessed with the welfare quality protocol, samples of the bedding and bulktank milk were taken to analyze heavy metals and bacteria. Skin damages were lowest in barns with lush bedding material with no real differences between boxcompost, saw dust, straw and horse manure. Bacterial counts showed differences in number and in type of bacteria between bedding material, with higher numbers of heat resistant spore forming bacteria in compost. Heavy metal contents were higher in boxcompost compared with other materials. The milk copper content was much higher than values mentioned in literature and lead, zinc and arsenic were low.