Student Case Presentation
The Effect of Different Concentrations of Sodium Bisulfate (ParlorPal® ) on pH and the Microbiota of Cattle Manure from a Bedded-Pack Monoslope Barn
| Date/Time: |
9/11/2025 #6
|
| Presenter: |
Hannah Schiesl |
| Veterinary School: |
IA |
Abstract:
Digital dermatitis (DD) is a highly infectious polybacterial disease causing ulcerative lesions, lameness, and decreased performance in feedlot cattle. Utilization of routine foot baths in a feedlot setting is problematic due to the added cost and labor. To potentially mitigate the effects of DD, we evaluated the use of 3 concentrations of a sodium bisulfite (NaHSO4) pen treatment to modify the pH and reduce the bacterial population in bedding material from a monoslope feedlot housing cattle with active DD lesions. Samples were collected at 2 different depths (1” and 2”) prior to NaHSO4 treatment and at 3- and 7-hours post-treatment. Five replications of each treatment combination were utilized. pH measurements were taken using a handheld pH meter and samples were serially diluted and plated onto 6 selective medias to obtain relative CFUs/gram of the original material. The CFU growth was converted to a Log-10 unit to establish a more normal distribution. Repeated mixed-measures regression analysis, ANOVA, and Tukey tests were performed to determine the effect of time and treatment on pH and bacterial CFUs. Differences were considered significant at p<0.05. The pH of pen samples were significantly lower as product concentration and exposure time increased at both depths (p≤0.001). The Log-10 CFU on selective growth media decreased significantly as product concentration and exposure time increased (p<0.05). Additionally, there was a significant decrease (p=0.05) in anaerobic CFUs with increased product concentration and exposure time. Changes in observed colony types were noted and suggests further study is needed to quantify this effect. In conclusion, the use of NaHSO4 as a pen treatment significantly lowered bedding pH resulting in decreased anaerobic bacterial load. This technology has the potential to decrease the incidence of DD and provide a cost-effective alternative to foot bath use in feedyards.
