Written for Progressive Dairyman on March 31, 2019
The choice of litter has a direct impact on the cow's comfort, but when deciding which material to place under the cows, several other factors must be taken into account, such as cost, availability, ease of use, udder health, growth of pathogens and more.
Use the following list of pros and cons to sort through the options for creating the best beds for your dairy farm.
Biologicaloptions for bedding
Compost bedding/bedding bag
About 12 to 18 inches of compost material (wood chips or sawdust) is initially spread on the floor of a litter box or compost shed. The lying area must be aerated twice a day during milking to a maximum depth of 20 to 25 centimeters; this incorporates oxygen for aerobic decomposition and to provide a fresh surface without accumulated manure for the cows to lie on.
Normally, half a truckload of fresh, dry sawdust is added every two to five weeks, depending on the season, weather conditions and cow density. The pack can grow up to four feet high and is removed once or twice a year. When the spread packaging has been completely cleaned, the dirty litter is spread over the fields according to the company fertilization plans.
This system requires excellent packaging and ventilation management to keep the stables functioning properly. Many bunk beds have fans that blow air onto the pack to help dry the surface of the pack. When we see steam rising from the package during aeration, moisture escapes in large quantities.
Bed-pack loaders generally have higher concentrations of environmental pathogens. To reduce the risk of mastitis in cows, farms should maintain adequate bedding, provide frequent grooming, ensure excellent ventilation, avoid overcrowding and practice good barn hygiene and care.
Benefit:
- Fertilizer is readily available; the costs are low and the absorption capacity is high.
- Despite the high number of bacteria in the litter, udder health and milk quality were not compromised and somatic cell count (SCC) decreased over time in a well-run litter barn. However, this requires good salon management.
- Herd turnover has been shown to decrease over time, most likely due to a reduced incidence of lameness and hock lesions. Cubicles are very comfortable for cows and foot and leg health is positive when using this litter system.
- Free stall stables give cows freedom of movement compared to free stalls and intermediate stables.
- There is a reduction in the costs for manure storage and the space required and savings are made on labor and manure processing.
- Compost litter shows a lower incidence of first and second cases of mastitis, a lower cell count and a higher milk yield when used in the dry period.
Cons:
- High ambient humidity and air temperatures are not conducive to efficient use of dried solid fertilizers or composted dairy waste as bedding.
- Dried manure is an excellent medium for bacterial growth when it is moist; Composting provides little benefit in terms of net reduction in teat tip contamination by pathogens. Every 1 percent increase in the percentage of cows with discarded milk was associated with a 0.14 percent increase in the somatic cell count scores of bulk milk.
- The number of Gram-negative bacteria in deep-bed slurry solids was greater than in short-bed slurry solids.
Mattresses
Mattresses are mainly used in ten stables or cubicles. There is a waterproof exterior filled with different materials, such as rubber crumbs or foam. Mattresses are marketed without bedding, but research has shown that bedding makes mattresses more attractive to cows, and the Dairy Stewardship program requires bedding on mattresses.
Cows prefer soft rubber mats to conventional hard rubber mats or concrete if bedding is added with at least 1 pound of straw on top. With mattresses, it is recommended to sleep daily instead of rotating bedding to control surface bacteria as organic bedding is often used on mattresses.
Benefit:
- Cows on mattresses are generally cleaner.
- The somatic cell count for cows is generally lower with mattresses.
- Cows prefer to stand on mattresses, especially lame cows, indicating that a cow prefers padded surfaces.
- Mattresses with lime have the lowest number of pathogens in the environment.
Cons:
- Cows on foam mattresses need more time to lie down and the lying time is shorter.
- The scores for swollen and damaged heels are generally higher compared to other ground cover materials.
- Mattresses used as box bases reduce sleeping comfort and are seen as risk factors for lameness.
Papier
Paper is relatively cheap if it is close to paper mills. Shredded recycled newspaper can also be used and can be mixed with other bedding. The fineness of the cut affects the properties of the bedding. In addition, it is important to use recycled paper with minimal gloss residue and high ink.
Sawdust or wood shavings
Benefit:
- Sawdust and wood shavings can be broken down by microorganisms in the landfill.
- It has been observed that cows have more lying time with deep sawdust.
- Lameness problems have been shown to decrease with the use of sawdust or wood shavings.
- Sawdust and wood shavings have a high absorption capacity.
- Ease of use is one of the most important reasons for this choice on many dairy farms.
- Adding lime to soil cover to lower the pH can reduce the growth of pathogens; However, the effect of lime is short-lived (24 hours) and lime must be added daily. It is recommended to add lime before laying the bedding, and mixing just before use is most effective at reducing the number of pathogens.
Cons:
- Because they are organic, sawdust and wood shavings allow for the rapid growth of pathogens.
- Smaller particle size of sawdust allows for rapid growth of pathogens and higher bacterial counts. The small particle size of sawdust means that it absorbs better than wood chips and breaks down more quickly.
Straw and hay
Straw, an organic material, is often used for ground cover because it is soft, provides thermal insulation and composts well. Straw and hay make attractive bedding when produced on the farm. A small particle size (3/4-inch screen) increases animal comfort and absorbency and reduces straw breakdown time.
Benefit:
- The lying time on straw is longer than with many other bed options. It has been observed that cows are more likely to lie on concrete with large amounts of straw over it than on lightly coated soft rubber mattresses.
- It has been shown that the bacterial count of straw is lower compared to sand and sawdust.
Straw and hay can be grown on the farm. - Cows prefer to lie on concrete stables with a lot of straw than on soft rubber mats with little straw.
Cons:
- Cows that lie on straw and hay are dirtier than cows that lie on other bedding.
- Reduced cleanliness of cows is associated with a higher incidence of mastitis.
Claw health is lower compared to cows that stand on sand. - Straw is often avoided due to handling issues, cost and compatibility with manure systems.
Inorganicbedding
Sand
Sand is economical, improves the cleanliness of the cow and has benefits for leg and claw health. It is an inert material that does not promote the growth of pathogens; However, when mixed with manure, the growth of pathogens can occur. Naturally occurring sand has rounded edges and is more comfortable for cows.
The particle size is important, because sand with too small a particle size retains water well, and a large particle size is not comfortable for cows to lie on. Very fine sand provides less drainage because the fine sand fills voids between larger particles and allows moisture accumulation or moisture pockets. A depth of 15 to 20 cm in a cubicle is recommended for the comfort, softness and design of the cow.
Benefit:
- Sand has been shown to reduce the risk of lameness in cows.
- Clean sand can be recycled.
- Sand increases the cows' lying time.
- The number of environmental bacteria is lower in sand than in organic ground cover.
- The cleanliness of the cows, the health of the cows with a low number of bacteria in the environment, a reduced incidence of hock lesions and claw diseases and traction on the surface are the main reasons why farmers choose to use sand.
- Sand works as a cleaning agent to remove manure from legs, udders and flanks.
- The amount of pathogens increases and peaks one day after placing clean and recycled sand.
Cons:
- Disposal can be a challenge. Sand often does not work with fertilization systems. In a liquid manure processing plant, sand must settle to the bottom and then be removed.
- The stables can become compacted and the sand will be difficult to separate passively or mechanically from the manure.
- Sand is difficult to use on slatted floors.
- When stables with sand become hollow, the total lying time of the cows decreases. To prevent this, regular maintenance of the stables is necessary.
- If there is a choice between sand, straw and mattresses, sand is the least preferred method among cows.
When considering the best bedding choice for a dairy farm, you must weigh these pros and cons and determine what will satisfy both cow comfort and the operational needs of the farm.
