TY - JOUR

T1 - Long-term effects of electrochemically activated drinking water on milk yield, milk composition and somatic cell counts in dairy cows

T2 - a field study

AU - Vargas-Bello-Pérez, Einar

AU - Cruz-Morales, Santiago

AU - Dhakal, Rajan

AU - Hansen, Hanne H.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - The objective of this study was to determine the effects of electrochemically activated drinking water (ECW) on milk yield, milk composition and somatic cell counts (SCC) in dairy cows. In Farm 1, as a controlled study, two groups of lactating cows were offered regular drinking water (n = 27) and ECW (n = 27) water dosed with 4 ppm of 29 mg/L of chlorate (Neuthox®). The 54 cows were grouped into two groups, balanced by stage of lactation (111 ± 67 DIM) and parity (2.2 ± 0.4). Cows received water with or without ECW for 6 months. In Farm 2, a longitudinal study was undertaken with 140 lactating cows that were offered ECW for 5 months. Monthly records from milk yield and milk components were analysed from both farms. In Farm 1, SCC were lowered by ECW (162 ± 42 × 103/mL) compared to no ECW animals (411 ± 202 × 103/mL). In Farm 2, milk yield (from 35.5 to 32.7 kg of energy corrected milk) and milk protein (from 3.52 to 3.33 g/100 g) contents decreased across the months while SCC tended to decrease. Results showed that ECW could be useful for reducing SCC without detrimental effects on milk production and milk composition.

AB - The objective of this study was to determine the effects of electrochemically activated drinking water (ECW) on milk yield, milk composition and somatic cell counts (SCC) in dairy cows. In Farm 1, as a controlled study, two groups of lactating cows were offered regular drinking water (n = 27) and ECW (n = 27) water dosed with 4 ppm of 29 mg/L of chlorate (Neuthox®). The 54 cows were grouped into two groups, balanced by stage of lactation (111 ± 67 DIM) and parity (2.2 ± 0.4). Cows received water with or without ECW for 6 months. In Farm 2, a longitudinal study was undertaken with 140 lactating cows that were offered ECW for 5 months. Monthly records from milk yield and milk components were analysed from both farms. In Farm 1, SCC were lowered by ECW (162 ± 42 × 103/mL) compared to no ECW animals (411 ± 202 × 103/mL). In Farm 2, milk yield (from 35.5 to 32.7 kg of energy corrected milk) and milk protein (from 3.52 to 3.33 g/100 g) contents decreased across the months while SCC tended to decrease. Results showed that ECW could be useful for reducing SCC without detrimental effects on milk production and milk composition.

KW - electrochemical water

KW - Milk production

KW - somatic cells

U2 - 10.1080/09712119.2021.1949326

DO - 10.1080/09712119.2021.1949326

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85109772744

VL - 49

SP - 304

EP - 308

JO - Journal of Applied Animal Research

JF - Journal of Applied Animal Research

SN - 0971-2119

IS - 1

ER -