Milk production, water consumption andsomatic cell count responses of cows subject to 1-2 volts AC between the waterlineand cow platform

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association

Volume

201

Issue

3

Publisher

American Veterinary Medical Association

Publication Date

1992

First Page

441

Last Page

444

Abstract

A dairy farm located in central New York was visited because of complaints of electrical shock in the farmhouse shower and the milk house sink. As much as 2 volts AC of potential difference was measured between the waterline and the cow platform (cow-contact voltage). Voltage was coming from the primary neutral wire. The farm's electrical service was modified so that the farmstead could be connected or disconnected from the primary neutral wire at 2-week intervals for 12 weeks. When connected to the primary neutral wire, voltage between waterline and floor ranged between 0 and 1.8 volts, producing estimated current flow through cows of 3.6 to 4.9 mA; when disconnected from primary neutral wire, voltage between waterline and floor was less than 0.1 volt. There was no difference in mean milk production, bulk tank milk somatic cell count, or water consumption among periods when cows were exposed or unexposed to voltage. Despite statistical nonsignificance, the values for somatic cell count were lower and water consumption was higher when cows were exposed to voltage than when they were not.

Comments

J Am Vet Med Assoc 201:3:441-444, 1992

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