Table 4 Association between winter management practices and bulk tank total bacterial score (TBS)

Cow housing

Cubicles

84

9.93 (21)

0.024

0.0611

Loose

5

9.95 (21)

0.095

Paddock

2

10.30 (30)

0.149

Cubicles and loose

3

9.86 (19)

0.128

Stalls

6

10.08 (24)

0.086

Cubicle bedding

Sawdust and other

11

9.92 (20)

0.066

0.0003

Lime

17

10.01 (22)

0.051

Shredded paper

4

9.82 (18)

0.112

Straw

4

10.13 (25)

0.104

None

11

10.15 (26)

0.066

Mats

19

9.95 (21)

0.048

Mats and lime

34

9.82 (18)

0.037

Cubicles cleaned

Twice a day

37

9.82 (18)

0.036

0.0038

Once a day

46

10.00 (22)

0.032

Never

5

9.93 (21)

0.094

Every second day

7

9.98 (22)

0.085

Weekly

5

10.06 (23)

0.099

Passage cleaning

Mechanical scrapers

55

9.92 (20)

0.029

0.0625

Tractor

23

10.04 (24)

0.046

Hand scraper

6

10.01 (22)

0.094

Slats

11

9.85 (19)

0.068

Mixture

5

9.82 (18)

0.092

Frequency of passage cleaning

Twice a day

16

9.95 (21)

0.059

0.2083

Once a day

24

10.04 (23)

0.049

Never

1

10.25 (28)

0.245

Every one to two hrs

11

9.88 (20)

0.071

Every three to four hrs

32

9.89 (20)

0.042

Every five to seven hrs

12

9.90 (20)

0.067

Twice a week

4

10.01 (22)

0.123

Calving area

Calving box

85

9.94 (21)

0.023

0.0103

Cubicles house

4

9.68 (16)

0.112

Paddock

4

10.16 (26)

0.112

Stalls

3

10.17 (26)

0.121

Other

5

9.88 (19)

0.101

Frequency of calving area cleaned

Daily

23

9.97 (21)

0.048

0.8697

Twice a week

17

9.95 (21)

0.054

Weekly

11

9.94 (21)

0.065

Three times per calving season

15

9.90 (20)

0.058

Twice during calving season

24

9.92 (20)

0.046

End of calving season

10

10.00 (22)

0.071