Characteristics of Indigestible Foreign Materials in Forestomach of Dairy Cows in Different Farm Types

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess the relevance of plastic ingestion in dairy cows depending on the management pra ctice and the size of the farm. The research was conducted during 2015–2020 in the central part of Ukraine. The presence of foreign bodies in the rumen was detected during diagnos tic rumenotomy or postmortem in backyard (1–8 animals), small traditional (usually 50–200 animals) or modern large farms (500–1000 dairy cows). The study showed that plastic materials and their derivates are the main component of indi gestible foreign bodies found in cows’ forestomach. Big pie ces of plastic and conglomerates with plastic material cause prolonged chronic forestomach dystonia in dairy cows in 93%, 91%, and 82% of cases on backyard, traditional, and modern dairy farms, respectively. Nylon ropes, bale nets, plastic bags, packaging material, pieces of clothing, and rags were most frequently found in cows from backyard farms. Metal items, nylon ropes and nets, polyethylene fodder films, and plastic medicine packaging were the most frequent items found in cows from traditional and modern farms. Proper plastic waste management on the farms has to be an integral part of pre venting forestomach diseases, decreasing culling rate, and increasing level of welfare in dairy cows.